Understanding Internet access and use to facilitate patient portal adoption

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prudence W Dalrymple ◽  
Michelle Rogers ◽  
Lisl Zach ◽  
Anthony Luberti
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Major Health ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Potential Use

Understanding the information-seeking preferences and Internet access habits of the target audiences for a patient portal is essential for successful uptake. The resource must deliver culturally and educationally appropriate information via technology that is accessible to the intended users and be designed to meet their needs and preferences. Providers must consider multiple perspectives when launching a portal and make any needed adjustments once the launch is underway. We report results of a study of 270 parents and caregivers of paediatric patients in a major health system during the process of implementing a patient portal. Through a 26-question paper-and-pencil survey, data were collected on participant demographics, Internet access and use, health information–seeking behaviours, health literacy, and potential use of a patient portal. Results indicate a positive attitude towards portal use but also suggest that low health literacy may be a key issue to portal adoption.

scholarly journals Correlates of Older Adults’ E-Health Information-Seeking Behaviors

Gerontology ◽  
2022 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sara Pourrazavi ◽  
Kamiar Kouzekanani ◽  
Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi ◽  
Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi ◽  
Mina Hashemiparast ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The Internet is an important source for health information and a medium for older adults’ empowerment in health decision-making and self-caring. Therefore, we aimed to identify the potential motivators and probable barriers of e-health information-seeking behaviors (e-HISB) among older Iranian adults. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A cross-sectional study assessed the usefulness of self-efficacy, perceived encouragement, positive attitude toward e-HISB, perceived usefulness, challenges of being visited by physicians, and perceived barriers in predicting e-HISB in a sample of 320 older adults in Tabriz, Iran. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The self-efficacy for online information seeking, positive attitude toward e-HISB, and perceived usefulness increased the odds of e-HISB by 12.00%, 24.00%, and 15.00%, respectively. In addition, e-health literacy, conflicting information, distrust of online information, and web designs that were not senior-friendly were the major barriers to e-HISB. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> The theoretical and practical implications of the motivators and barriers of e-HISB can be instrumental in designing and executing programs aimed at improving e-health literacy among older adults especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association between Patient Portal Usage and Perceived Patient-Centered Communication among Adults with Cancer: Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryum Zaidi ◽  
Daniel J. Amante ◽  
Ekaterina Anderson ◽  
Mayuko Ito Fukunaga ◽  
Jamie Marie Faro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Patient Portals ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cancer Management

BACKGROUND Patient-centered communication (PCC) plays a vital role in effective cancer management and care. Patient portals are increasingly available to patients and hold potential as a valuable tool to facilitate PCC. However, whether the use of patient portals may improve perceived PCC or which mechanisms might mediate this relationship has not been studied. OBJECTIVE The primary goal of this study was to investigate the association between the frequency of access to patient portals and perceived PCC in patients with cancer. A secondary goal was to explore whether this association was mediated by patients' self-efficacy in health information seeking. METHODS We used data from the Health Information National Trend Survey 5 (HINTS 5) cycle 3 (2019) and cycle 4 (2020). The present analysis includes 1,222 individuals who self-reported having a current or past diagnosis of cancer. Perceived PCC was measured with a 7-item HINTS derived scale and classified as low, medium, or high. Patient portal usage was measured by a single item assessing the frequency of use. Self-efficacy about health information seeking was assessed with a one-item measure assessing confidence in obtaining health information. We used adjusted multinomial logistic regression models to estimate relative risk ratios (RRR) of the association between patients' patient portal usage and perceived PCC. Mediation by health information self-efficacy was investigated using the Baron and Kenny and Karlson, Holm, and Breen methods. RESULTS 54.5% of the sample reported that they did not access their patient portals in the past 12 months, 12.6 % accessed it 1-2 times, 24.8% accessed it 3-9 times, and 8.2% accessed it 10 or more times. Overall, the frequency of accessing the patient portal was marginally associated (P=0.06) with perceived PCC in an adjusted multinominal logistic regression model. Patients who accessed their patient portal 10 or more times in the previous 12 months were almost 4 times more likely (RRR=3.8; 95% CI 1.6–9.0) to report high perceived PCC. In mediation analysis, the association between patient portal use and perceived PCC was attenuated adjusting for health information seeking self-efficacy, but those with the most frequent patient portal use (ten or more times in the previous 12 months) were still almost 2.5 times more likely to report high perceived PCC (RRR=2.4; 95% CI 1.1–5.6) compared to those with no portal use. CONCLUSIONS PCC is an integral part of patient-centered care. Those who reported the greatest use of patient portals were more likely to report higher perceived PCC. These findings emphasize the importance of encouraging cancer patients and providers to use patient portals to increase patient-centeredness of care and suggest that interventions to promote the adoption and use of patient portals could incorporate strategies to improve health information self-efficacy.

scholarly journals EDUCATION, LITERACY, NUMERACY AND HEALTH INFORMATION SEEKING IN LATER LIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S322-S322
Author(s):  
Takashi Yamashita ◽  
Anthony R Bardo ◽  
Roberto J Millar ◽  
Shalini Sahoo ◽  
Phyllis Cummins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Abstract Health information plays a critical role for health promotion and maintenance in later life. While health information seeking is primarily driven by need (e.g., health), significantly less is known about the roles of education and health-literacy. Thus, we examine complex pathways that link health information seeking behaviors with education and health literacy (decomposed into general literacy and numeracy), and how these pathways differ by health status among a nationally representative sample of Americans age 50 and older (n = 2,750). Data come from the 2012/2014 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies. Multi-group structural equation models were used to examine the use of eight health information sources (newspapers, magazines, internet, radio, TV, books, friends/family, and health professionals) by health status (good vs. poor). Findings showed that literacy and numeracy are significant mediators of the relationship between education and health professional as an information source. Additionally, the mediation effects on health professionals by literacy status [indirect-effect (good vs. poor health) = 0.48 vs. 2.13, p &lt; 0.05] and numeracy [indirect-effect (good vs. poor health) = -0.47 vs. -1.81, p &lt; 0.05] were significantly moderated by health. At the same time, no moderated mediation effect was observed in the use of any other information sources. This study provides some of the first nationally representative evidence regarding how education functions through health literacy components to shape health information seeking behaviors by health status. Explanations and implications for differing effects of education, literacy, and numeracy on health information seeking in later life were evaluated.

scholarly journals Literacy, Numeracy, and Health Information Seeking Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Yamashita ◽  
Anthony R. Bardo ◽  
Darren Liu ◽  
Phyllis A. Cummins
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Nationally Representative

Objectives: Health literacy is often viewed as an essential skill set for successfully seeking health information to make health-related decisions. However, this general understanding has yet to be established with the use of nationally representative data. The objective of this study was to provide the first nationally representative empirical evidence that links health information seeking behaviors with health literacy among middle-age to older adults in the United States. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2012/2014 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Literacy (PIAAC). Our analytic sample is representative of adults age 45 to 74 years ( N = 2,989). Results: Distinct components of health literacy (i.e., literacy and numeracy) were uniquely associated with the use of different health information sources (e.g., health professionals, the Internet, television). Discussion: Findings should be useful for government agencies and health care providers interested in targeting health communications, as well as researchers who focus on health disparities.

Health Disparities, a Social Determinant of Health and Risk: Considerations for Health and Risk Messaging

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Grant Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Health Disparities ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Starting Point

Health disparities are differences in health outcomes between socially disadvantaged and advantaged groups. This essay provides a brief review of the voluminous literature on health disparities, with a focus on several major threads including populations of interest, incidence and prevalence of morbidity and mortality, determinants of health, health literacy and health information seeking, media influences on health disparities, and efforts to reduce disparities. Populations of interest tend to be defined primarily by socioeconomic status (income/education), race, ethnicity, and sex or gender; however, differences in sexual orientation, immigrant status, geography, and physical and mental disability are also of concern. Determinants of health can be categorized along a number of dimensions, but common designations consider behavioral, social, and environmental factors that lead to health disparities, as well as differences in access to health care and health services. Of central interest to communication researchers, differences in health literacy and health information seeking are revealed between advantaged and disadvantaged groups. Media influences involve the effects of access or exposure to different kinds of health information on the health behavior and health outcomes of different groups, as well as the effects of health disparity media coverage on public support for initiatives to reduce health disparities. Efforts to reduce health disparities are extensive and involve government and foundation efforts and research-driven interventions. Taking a broader view, this essay briefly discusses trends in scholarship on health disparities, noting the precipitous increase in academic journal article publications on the topic, including the publication of journals specifically focused on publishing health disparities scholarship. Future directions for research are suggested, and recommendations for interventions to improve health disparities offered by the Principal Investigators of the 10 Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities are presented. Finally, an annotated list of primary sources (books, special issues of journals, reports) and a list of sources for further reading are offered to provide a starting point for beginning scholars to orient themselves to research in health disparities.

scholarly journals The Role of Health Literacy and Social Networks in Arthritis Patients' Health Information-Seeking Behavior: A Qualitative Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janette Ellis ◽  
Judy Mullan ◽  
Anthony Worsley ◽  
Nagesh Pai
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Selection Of

Background. Patients engage in health information-seeking behaviour to maintain their wellbeing and to manage chronic diseases such as arthritis. Health literacy allows patients to understand available treatments and to critically appraise information they obtain from a wide range of sources. Aims. To explore how arthritis patients' health literacy affects engagement in arthritis-focused health information-seeking behaviour and the selection of sources of health information available through their informal social network. Methods. An exploratory, qualitative study consisting of one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Twenty participants with arthritis were recruited from community organizations. The interviews were designed to elicit participants' understanding about their arthritis and arthritis medication and to determine how the participants' health literacy informed selection of where they found information about their arthritis and pain medication. Results. Participants with low health literacy were less likely to be engaged with health information-seeking behaviour. Participants with intermediate health literacy were more likely to source arthritis-focused health information from newspapers, television, and within their informal social network. Those with high health literacy sourced information from the internet and specialist health sources and were providers of information within their informal social network. Conclusion. Health professionals need to be aware that levels of engagement in health information-seeking behaviour and sources of arthritis-focused health information may be related to their patients' health literacy.

Health Literacy in Primary Health Care

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Keleher ◽  
Virginia Hagger
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Considerable Work

Health literacy is fundamental if people are to successfully manage their own health. This requires a range of skills and knowledge about health and health care, including finding, understanding, interpreting and communicating health information, seeking of appropriate care and making critical health decisions. A primary health system that is appropriate and universally accessible requires an active agenda based on research of approaches to address low health literacy, while health care providers should be alert to the widespread problems of health literacy which span all age levels. This article reviews the progress made in Australia on health literacy in primary health care since health literacy was included in Australia's health goals and targets in the mid-1990s. A database search of published literature was conducted to identify existing examples of health literacy programs in Australia. Considerable work has been done on mental health literacy, and research into chronic disease self-management with CALD communities, which includes health literacy, is under way. However, the lack of breadth in research has led to a knowledge base that is patchy. The few Australian studies located on health literacy research together with the data about general literacy in Australia suggests the need for much more work to be done to increase our knowledge base about health literacy, in order to develop appropriate resources and tools to manage low health literacy in primary health settings.

Are Adult Women or Men Who Use the Internet as a Health Information Resource More Health Literate?

2016 ◽  
pp. 114-138
Author(s):  
Filiz Yildirim ◽  
Metin Çakir
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Resource ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Literacy Scores

The purpose of this study was to compare health literacy of adult men and women who use the internet for health purposes. It was conducted on 229 adults, who live in Bursa, Turkey, aged 30-69. As data collecting tool, personal along with health information (seeking) forms and 14-item health literacy scale were used. The results showed that although statistically not significant, men used the internet for health purposes more when compared with women. However, it was also calculated that health literacy scores of women who used the internet as a health information resource were higher than those of men in the same category. It can be inferred in this study that women are more health literate compared to men.

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