Using <i>personal health records</i> for medication continuity during transition of care: An observational study

<b>Background:</b> National Personal Health Records (PHRs) have been proposed to improve the transfer of medication-related information during transition of care. <b>Objective:</b> To evaluate the concordance between the medications captured in the Australian national PHR, My Health Record (MyHR), and the pharmacist obtained best possible medication history (BPMH) for patients upon hospital admission. <b>Method:</b> This prospective observational study used a convenience sample of hospital patients. For newly admitted patients, the investigating pharmacist obtained a BPMH and then compared it to the medication list captured in MyHR. Upon comparison, the medications were categorised into either complete match, partial match or mismatch. Medications with a complete or partial match were grouped together. Medications with deviations were then assessed for risk based on their potential consequence, and reported descriptively. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the factors associated with a drug being mismatched. <b>Results:</b> A total of 82 patients were recruited, with a cumulative total of 1,207 medications documented. Of the 1,207 medications, 714 (59.2%) medications were documented as a complete/partial match. The remaining 493 (40.8%) medications were mismatched. Of the 493 mismatched medications, 442 (89.7%) were deemed low-risk deviations and 51 (10.3%) were deemed high-risk. A medication was more likely to be mismatched, rather than completely/partially matched, if it was a regular non-prescription medication, or "when-required" prescription medication, or "when required" non-prescription medication, or if it was administered parenterally. <b>Conclusion:</b> National PHRs may be a secondary source to either confirm a patient's medication history or be used as a starting point for a BPMH.