JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Communicating diagnostic test results online has several advantages for patients, such as improving clinical efficiency and improving accessibility, thereby helping patients to take an active role in managing their health.

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the experiences and self-efficacy of patients using an online patient portal that communicates diagnostic test results.

Methods:

The online-administered eHealth Impact Questionnaire was used to explore patients’ attitudes towards the portal. Patients visiting the portal were asked to complete the questionnaire. The subscale ‘information and presentation’ assessed the usability of the patient portal and the subscale ‘motivation and confidence to act’ assessed self-efficacy to determine whether patients were motivated to act on the presented information. A cut-off score of ≥ 65 was used to determine whether the portal was rated positive.

Results:

The questionnaire was completed by 354 patients. ‘Information and presentation’ scored 67.70 (SD = 13.12) and ‘motivation and confidence to act’ scored 63.59 (SD = 16.22). A positive, significant correlation was found between the two subscales, r(345) = .77, p < .001.

Conclusions:

This study showed that the usability of the portal was rated positively by patients. However, the portal only slightly helps patients to take an active role in managing their own health. Future research should examine avenues to further increase patients’ self-efficacy and study whether portal acceptability differs in subgroups. All in all, patient portals conveying diagnostic test results in understandable language seem usable and provide potentially a viable way to help patients take a more active role in managing their own health.