OBJECTIVE: Patient portal functionalities, such as patient-physician e-communication, can benefit patients by improving clinical outcomes. Utilization has historically been low but may have increased in recent years due to the implementation of Stage 2 Meaningful Use for electronic health records. This study has 2 objectives: 1) to compare patient portal utilization rates before Stage 2 (2011-2013) and after Stage 2 (2014-2017), and 2) to examine whether disparities in patient portal utilization attenuate after Stage 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational study using a pooled cross-sectional analysis of 2011-2017 National Health Interview Survey data (n = 254 183). RESULTS: The mean percent use of patient portals significantly increased from the pre-Stage 2 to the post-Stage 2 period (6.9%, 95% CI, 6.2-7.5; P < .001). Non-Hispanic Black individuals (OR 0.81, 95% CI, 0.76-0.86; P < .0001) and Hispanic individuals (OR 0.79, 95% CI, 0.74-0.84; P < .0001) have lower odds of using patient portals compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. Although we found independent effects of race/ethnicity, we did not find a statistically significant interaction between race/ethnicity and time. We found a similar level of increase in patient portal utilization from the pre- to postperiod across racial and ethnic groups. DISCUSSION: Health care policies such as Stage 2 Meaningful Use are likely contributing to increased patient portal utilization across all patients and helping to attenuate disparities in utilization between subgroups of patients. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed to explore which patient portal functionalities are perceived as most beneficial to patients and whether patients have access to those functionalities.
OBJECTIVE:Patient portal functionalities, such as patient-physician e-communication, can benefit patients by improving clinical outcomes. Utilization has historically been low but may have increased in recent years due to the implementation of Stage 2 Meaningful Use for electronic health records. This study has 2 objectives: 1) to compare patient portal utilization rates before Stage 2 (2011-2013) and after Stage 2 (2014-2017), and 2) to examine whether disparities in patient portal utilization attenuate after Stage 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational study using a pooled cross-sectional analysis of 2011-2017 National Health Interview Survey data (n = 254 183). RESULTS: The mean percent use of patient portals significantly increased from the pre-Stage 2 to the post-Stage 2 period (6.9%, 95% CI, 6.2-7.5; P < .001). Non-Hispanic Black individuals (OR 0.81, 95% CI, 0.76-0.86; P < .0001) and Hispanic individuals (OR 0.79, 95% CI, 0.74-0.84; P < .0001) have lower odds of using patient portals compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. Although we found independent effects of race/ethnicity, we did not find a statistically significant interaction between race/ethnicity and time. We found a similar level of increase in patient portal utilization from the pre- to postperiod across racial and ethnic groups. DISCUSSION: Health care policies such as Stage 2 Meaningful Use are likely contributing to increased patient portal utilization across all patients and helping to attenuate disparities in utilization between subgroups of patients. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed to explore which patient portal functionalities are perceived as most beneficial to patients and whether patients have access to those functionalities.
Authors: Chun-Ju Hsiao; Ashish K Jha; Jennifer King; Vaishali Patel; Michael F Furukawa; Farzad Mostashari Journal: Health Aff (Millwood) Date: 2013-07-09 Impact factor: 6.301
Authors: Ellen Burke Beckjord; Lila J Finney Rutten; Linda Squiers; Neeraj K Arora; Lindsey Volckmann; Richard P Moser; Bradford W Hesse Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2007-07-12 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Kea Turner; Ara Jo; Grace Wei; Amir Alishahi Tabriz; Alecia Clary; Heather S L Jim Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2021-02-15 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Ruth A Bush; Vijaya M Vemulakonda; Andrew C Richardson; Sara J Deakyne Davies; George J Chiang Journal: Appl Clin Inform Date: 2019-09-11 Impact factor: 2.342
Authors: Omar H Ordaz; Raina L Croff; LaTroy D Robinson; Steven A Shea; Nicole P Bowles Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2021-06-03 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Kea Turner; Alecia Clary; Amir Alishahi Tabriz; Christopher M Shea; Young-Rock Hong Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-09-17 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Martina A Clarke; Elizabeth R Lyden; Jihyun Ma; Keyonna M King; Mohammad Mo Siahpush; Tzeyu Michaud; Regina E Idoate; Athena K Ramos Journal: J Racial Ethn Health Disparities Date: 2020-08-24