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Bridging the Digital Health Divide: Characterizing Patient Portal Users and Nonusers in the U.S.

MedStar author(s):

Brown, Jason

, MHRI

Citation: Medical Care. 61(7):448-455, 2023 Jul 01.PMID: 37289563Institution: Curtis National Hand Center | MedStar Health Research InstituteForm of publication: Journal ArticleMedline article type(s): Journal ArticleSubject headings: *Digital Divide | *Health Literacy | *Patient Portals | Delivery of Health Care | Humans | Surveys and Questionnaires | Year: 2023 Local holdings: Available online from MWHC library: 1996 - presentISSN:

0025-7079

Name of journal: Medical careAbstract: CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings suggest that access to health care, along with ongoing patient health needs, influence the usage of patient portal platforms. Patients with health insurance have the opportunity to access health care services, including establishing a relationship with a primary care provider. This relationship can be critical to a patient ever creating a patient portal account and actively engaging in their care, including communicating with their care team. Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.METHODS: Data were collected from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers from December 2021 to January 2022. MTurk workers completed an online survey, which asked about their health, access to technology, health literacy, patient self-efficacy, media and technology attitudes, and patient portal use for those with an account. A total of 489 MTurk workers completed the survey. Data were analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA) and multivariate logistic regression models.OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to (1) examine demographic differences between patient portal users and nonusers; and (2) examine health literacy, patient self-efficacy, and technology usage and attitudes between patient portal users and nonusers.RESULTS: Latent class analysis models revealed some qualitative differences between users and nonusers of patient portals in relation to neighborhood type, education, income, disability status, comorbidity of any type, insurance type, and the presence or absence of primary care providers. These results were partially confirmed by logistic regression models, which showed that participants with insurance, a primary care provider, or a disability or comorbid condition were more likely to have a patient portal account.All authors: Ahmed N, Brown J, Littlejohn R, McCullers A, Parau C, Sanghavi K, Wesley DBFiscal year: FY2024 Digital Object Identifier:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001869

Date added to catalog: 2023-07-27

Holdings ( 1 )
Title notes ( 6 )

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Journal Article	MedStar Authors Catalog	Article	37289563	Available		37289563

Available online from MWHC library: 1996 - present

CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings suggest that access to health care, along with ongoing patient health needs, influence the usage of patient portal platforms. Patients with health insurance have the opportunity to access health care services, including establishing a relationship with a primary care provider. This relationship can be critical to a patient ever creating a patient portal account and actively engaging in their care, including communicating with their care team. Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

METHODS: Data were collected from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers from December 2021 to January 2022. MTurk workers completed an online survey, which asked about their health, access to technology, health literacy, patient self-efficacy, media and technology attitudes, and patient portal use for those with an account. A total of 489 MTurk workers completed the survey. Data were analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA) and multivariate logistic regression models.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to (1) examine demographic differences between patient portal users and nonusers; and (2) examine health literacy, patient self-efficacy, and technology usage and attitudes between patient portal users and nonusers.

RESULTS: Latent class analysis models revealed some qualitative differences between users and nonusers of patient portals in relation to neighborhood type, education, income, disability status, comorbidity of any type, insurance type, and the presence or absence of primary care providers. These results were partially confirmed by logistic regression models, which showed that participants with insurance, a primary care provider, or a disability or comorbid condition were more likely to have a patient portal account.

English