Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: May 13, 2024
Date Accepted: Mar 11, 2025
Patient Factors Associated with Utilization of Online Portal Health Information in the post-pandemic era: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a National Survey
ABSTRACT
Background:
Patients’ electronic access to their health information can improve long-term health outcomes. Few studies have evaluated barriers that may limit access to portal health information.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of portal use and the factors associated with patients’ portal access.
Methods:
This study utilized data from the 2022 National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6). Adult patients (age ≥ 18) who responded to the survey question about patient portal access were included. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine characteristics associated with portal access.
Results:
5958 patients were included (weighted n = 158,529,517), with a mean age of 55.6 and were mostly female (50.6) and white (73.6%). 61.3% of all respondents reported accessing portals over the last 12 months, and 43.8% used multiple portals. Most participants (90.5%) reported utilizing portals to access test results, followed by downloading personal health information (31.9%). The likelihood of portal use significantly increased by 24.9 percentage points (pp) (95% CI, 19.4, 30.5) and 19.5 pp (95% CI, 15.1, 23.9) when patients were offered access to portals, or when a healthcare provider encouraged patient to access portal, respectively. Having a college education and living in urban areas increased the probability of portal use by 6.9 pp (95% CI, 3.1, 10.8) and 6.9 pp (95% CI, 1.3, 12.6), respectively. Of note, males and those of Hispanic background were less likely to be offered portal access by 10.8 pp (95% CI, 6.3, 15.2) and 6.9 pp (95% CI, 1.7, 12.1), respectively.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that most Americans use patient portals, though certain patient populations continue to face greater difficulty accessing them. Interventions targeted at equality in offering access to patient portals and encouraging patients to use them could advance equitable and widespread access to patient portals.
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