A majority of physicians believe that electronic health records are a safer option than paper-based records, according to a new survey.

Investigators from the research firm GfK Roper asked 1,220 physicians about their attitudes toward various record-keeping systems. The results showed that 54 percent believe that EHRs are the safest option, while just 18 percent favored paper records.

Of those who said EHRs were the best bet, a majority said that access to patient information is the top factor making the technology safest. Having access to a patient's entire medical history allows physicians to make better-informed and timelier diagnoses, which improves care quality.

Additionally, EHR systems can provide alerts to physicians when they have ordered an inappropriate test or when a patient has failed to fill a prescription.

Furthermore, the results of the survey underscore the shift that is currently taking place in the medical community. Some physicians may have initially eyed EHR technology with suspicion. However, as evidence continues to mount regarding its effectiveness, more medical professional are getting on board with EHR systems.