Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains in EHRs

A study conducted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) investigated which lifestyle domains (social and behavioral factors) should be included in electronic health records (EHRs) in order to provide health care professionals with more accurate assessments of patient health. The researchers identified a candidate set of 17 domains that would be useful to physicians and clinicians. These domains ranged from the sociodemographic (race, education, financial status, etc.) to psychological (stress levels, optimism, etc.) to behavioral (dietary patterns, physical activity, etc.) to relationship and community involvement. More complete EHRs would also allow for more detailed analysis in large-scale research projects aimed toward improving the health status of all Americans.

To see a full list of the selected domains >>