Abstract
•EPHR is different from and never substitutes the EHR of a given healthcare organisation.•Standalone, Tethered, and Integrated ePHRs are different models of ePHRs.•Top-Down; Bottom-up; and Middle-out are different nationwide approaches to ePHRs’ implementation.•Security, privacy, and secondary uses are of the main issues associated with health consumers acceptance of ePHRs.
Electronic Personal Health Record systems are providing health consumers with greater access and control to their health records by shifting these records from being a health provider-centred Electronic Health Record, to a patient-centred, Electronic Personal Health Record (ePHR). Based on the delivery system, ePHR systems are classified into standalone, tethered, and integrated or unified ePHRs. While national approaches of implementing integrated ePHR vary, the middle out method has been recognised as the ideal approach. It is worth considering the adoption of ePHRs has been slow due to several factors, including technical, individual, environmental, social, and legal factors. This paper provides a representative overview of an ePHR system, outlining its definition, types, architectures, and nationwide approaches of its implementation. Additionally, the drivers and hindrances to health consumer adoption are discussed.