Privacy concerns could present a significant psychological barrier to individuals signing up for personal health records while a sizable majority of the public wants a panoply of privacy protections wrapped around PHRs, according to a new public-opinion survey.

“The results documented firm attitudes in a majority of adults surveyed regarding privacy practices in the unfolding world on online PHR services,” according to a seven-page report of the survey findings. The survey discussion was part of a news conference on PHRs hosted by the Markle Foundation and its Connecting for Health program to promote the use of interoperable healthcare information technology.