JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Self-management of health is becoming increasingly more influenced by Health IT as online patient portals become more common. Patient portals allow patients direct access to their health information and opportunities to engage with their healthcare team. Data suggest that e-Health literacy is an important skill for using portals. Emerging adults (EA; ages 18-29), while generally healthy, are regular users of the healthcare system. A good understanding about their use of online patient portals and how their e-Health literacy skills impact their use is lacking.

Objective:

To describe patient portal use and explore the predictors of portal use among a diverse sample of EAs.

Methods:

A convenience sample, cross-sectional survey study was conducted at two universities. Demographics, healthcare visits, e-Health literacy, patient engagement and use of patient portal features (administrative and clinical) were asked. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with portal use.

Results:

Of the 340 EAs (76% female, 65% white, 47% low income), 54% reported having patient portal access. Of those reporting access, 77% used at least 1 portal feature and 23% reported using none. Significant predictors were patient engagement (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.13, p=.001;) and total encounters (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.44, p=.009;) but not e-Health literacy. Hispanic and Asian EAs were more likely to be frequent users of clinical portal features than white EAs (Hispanic, OR 2.97, 95%CI 1.03-8.52 p=.043; and Asian, OR 4.28, 95%CI 1.08-16.89, p=.038).

Conclusions:

Surprisingly, e-Health literacy did not predict use of patient portals in this diverse sample of EAs. Moreover, there may be ethnic differences that are important for healthcare systems to consider. Interventions to promote patient portal use, an essential self-management skill, should include strategies to increase patient engagement with patient portals in EA populations. Clinical Trial: N/A