Disparities in Patient-Reported Interest in Web-Based Patient Portals: Survey at an Urban Academic Safety-Net Hospital (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.11421
• Publication Date: 2018-09-15T22:33:36Z
• Authors: Shobha Sadasivaiah; Courtney R Lyles; Stephen Kiyoi; Piera Wong; Neda Ratanawongsa
• Keywords: Patient portal; Safety net

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Offering hospitalized patients’ enrollment into a health system’s patient portal may improve experience and engagement throughout the care continuum, especially across transitions, but this process is less studied than in ambulatory setting. Patient disparities exist lead to differences access or outcomes. As such, it important study upstream factors typical hospital workflow that could those safety-net settings. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> The objective of was evaluate sociodemographic characteristics associated with interest among patients reasons for no interest. <title>METHODS</title> Nurses assessed Web-based portal, expressed by as “yes” “no,” part admission nursing assessment at an academic urban recorded responses electronic record (EHR), including We extracted from EHR. <title>RESULTS</title> Among 23,994 hospitalizations over 2-year period, 35.90% (8614/ 23,994) reported portal. Reasons included following: not interested/other reason 41.68% (6410/15,380), ability use/access computers/internet 29.59% (4551/15,380), doesn’t speak English 11.15% (1715/15,380), physically mentally unable 8.70% (1338/15,380), does want say security concerns 0.03% (4/15,380), useful 0.16% (24/15,380). 16,507 unique sample, lower older, African American, non-English speaking, homeless populations. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> In system, time hospitalization enterprise portal—a required step before enrollment—is low significant characteristics. To avoid worsening digital divide, new strategies are needed should be embedded within routine workflows engage vulnerable use technologies.