miércoles, 9 de mayo de 2012

Consistency of Patient Preferences About a Sec... [Am J Med Qual. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

AHRQ-Funded Study Finds Patient Characteristics and Preferences Can Impact the Use of Patient PortalsThose who enroll and use a patient portal have different demographic characteristics and interest levels in selected portal functions (e.g., emailing providers, viewing medical record on-line, making appointments) than those who don’t use a patient portal, according to a new study funded by AHRQ. The study examines differences among primary care patients’ perceptions when contemplating using, enrolling to use, and experiences using a portal for healthcare purposes. The article suggests that while many patients may indicate a “hypothetical” interest in using such a portal, those who actually enroll and use portals may represent a unique subgroup of a practice’s or health system’s population. The article also suggests that patients initially perceive only limited improvements in care because of the portal. These differences have potential market implications, and can provide insight into how practices select and maintain portal functions of greater interest to patients using the portal. The study, “Consistency of Patient Preferences about a Secure Internet-based Patient Communications Portal: Contemplating, Enrolling, and Using,” was published in the April 18, 2012 edition of Journal of Medical Quality. Select to read the article.
Consistency of Patient Preferences About a Sec... [Am J Med Qual. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

Am J Med Qual. 2012 Apr 18. [Epub ahead of print]

Consistency of Patient Preferences About a Secure Internet-Based Patient Communications Portal: Contemplating, Enrolling, and Using.

Wakefield DS, Kruse RL, Wakefield BJ, Koopman RJ, Keplinger LE, Canfield SM, Mehr DR.

Abstract

Internet-based secure communication portals (portal) have the potential to enhance patient care via improved patient-provider communications. This study examines differences among primary care patients' perceptions when contemplating using, enrolling to use, and using a portal for health care purposes. A total of 3 groups of patients from 1 Midwestern academic medical center were surveyed at different points in time: (1) Waiting Room survey asking about hypothetical interest in using a portal to communicate with their physicians; (2) patient portal Enrollment survey; and (3) Follow-up postenrollment experience survey. Those who enroll and use a patient portal have different demographic characteristics and interest levels in selected portal functions (eg, e-mailing providers, viewing medical records online, making appointments) and initially perceive only limited improvements in care because of the portal. These differences have potential market implications and provide insight into selecting and maintaining portal functions of greater interest to patients who use the portal.