1
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Cai M, Blythe N, Jo A, Wong SL, Mayo SW. Electronic health record-integrated questionnaires in colorectal surgery patients as a new standard: Could preoperative bowel function be used to predict postoperative patient-reported outcomes? J Surg Oncol 2024; 130:133-139. [PMID: 38764283 DOI: 10.1002/jso.27688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Patient-reported bowel function has been previously shown to correlate with quality of life and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after colorectal surgery. We examined the relationship between preoperative patient-reported bowel function and postoperative symptom reporting using an electronic health record-integrated symptom management (eSyM). METHODS Patients who underwent major abdominal surgery for colorectal cancer at a single institution were included. Preoperative bowel function was assessed prospectively using the validated colorectal functional outcome (COREFO) questionnaire. Patients with electronic portal access received automated eSyM questionnaires after discharge. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between COREFO scores and eSyM use. RESULTS 169 patients underwent surgery between April 2020 and June 2022 (median age 64, 46.7% female). 148 completed COREFO questionnaires preoperatively; 54 (36.5%) had scores ≥15. Of the 108 patients with portal access, 67.6% used eSyM postoperatively. Among users, 72.3% (47/73) reported severe symptoms. Those with COREFO scores ≥15 were more likely to use eSyM (80.0% vs. 62.7%) though this difference was not significant (p = 0.079). CONCLUSIONS We found that eSyM utilization regardless of preoperative baseline bowel function was high in this cohort of colorectal surgery patients. This suggests that electronically captured PROs is an effective way for patients to communicate symptoms to their care teams in a postsurgical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Cai
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Noah Blythe
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Alice Jo
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Sandra L Wong
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Sara W Mayo
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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2
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Kuppanda PM, Jenkins J. Evaluation of Experiences and Attitudes of Patients Towards Patient Portal-Enabled Access to Their Health Information or Medical Records: A Qualitative Grounded Theory Study. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:1080-1090. [PMID: 37575030 PMCID: PMC10552347 DOI: 10.1177/10497323231192379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The demand for patient-centred care and patient engagement in their healthcare has driven patient portal introduction. The widespread adoption and use of patient portals, however, has been a rather slow process in the United Kingdom. Hence, a limited number of studies have explored patient perceptions and experiences of general portal use, which forms a foundation for successful implementation of a portal. This study, therefore, focuses on the experiences and attitudes of patients regarding use of patient portals and access to their health information. It further explores various factors perceived by patients that may influence portal use and uptake. The overall findings from this study highlight positive patient perceptions of portal use. Nevertheless, it demonstrates various areas of improvement essential to ensure future success of portal implementation and acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judy Jenkins
- Swansea University Medical School, Sketty, Swansea, Wales, UK
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3
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Singer P. Post-transplant education for kidney recipients and their caregivers. Pediatr Nephrol 2022:10.1007/s00467-022-05744-6. [PMID: 36227432 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-022-05744-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Successful outcomes in pediatric kidney transplantation require the involvement of the transplant team as well as recipients and their caregivers. Enhancing patient and family understanding of the disease and of post-transplant care can result in improved adherence and outcomes. Educational strategies should aim to be broad, understandable, innovative, and inclusive while maintaining a tailored approach to individualized care. Teaching should not be viewed as a one-time event but rather as an ongoing conversation throughout the duration of care, emphasizing different aspects throughout the patient's various developmental stages. The following review article discusses the content and methods of post-transplant education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Singer
- Department of Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 269-01 76th Ave, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA.
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4
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Lorenz EC, Petterson TM, Schinstock CA, Johnson BK, Kukla A, Kremers WK, Sanchez W, Yost KJ. The Relationship Between Health Literacy and Outcomes Before and After Kidney Transplantation. Transplant Direct 2022; 8:e1377. [PMID: 36204189 PMCID: PMC9529030 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Limited health literacy (HL) is associated with decreased kidney function and death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Less is known about the impact of HL on kidney transplant (KT) outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between HL and KT outcomes, including rates of waitlisting, healthcare utilization, acute rejection, renal allograft function, renal allograft failure, and death. Methods We performed a retrospective review of HL data previously collected at our center. HL was assessed in a convenience sample of consecutive, English-speaking patients age ≥18 y who were evaluated for KT at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota between June 2015 and March 2017 as part of a practice improvement feasibility project (n = 690). HL was assessed using the 4-item Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool modified for the outpatient KT evaluation process. The 4 items assess confidence completing forms, reading comprehension, and oral literacy. Results Overall, 30.4% of patients had limited or marginal HL. Patients with limited or marginal HL were less likely than those with adequate HL to be waitlisted for KT (hazard ratio = 0.62 and 0.69, respectively), even after adjusting for age, marital status, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, or dialysis dependency. Patient HL was not associated with post-KT healthcare utilization, acute rejection, or renal allograft function. Patients with limited or marginal HL appeared to experience a higher risk of renal allograft failure and post-KT death, but the number of events was small, and the relationship was statistically significant only for marginal HL. Conclusions Inadequate HL is common in KT candidates and independently associated with decreased waitlisting for KT. We observed no statistically significant relationship between HL and posttransplant outcomes in our cohort. Further efforts to improve communication in patients with inadequate HL may improve access to KT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C. Lorenz
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Tanya M. Petterson
- Divistion of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Carrie A. Schinstock
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Bradley K. Johnson
- Divistion of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Aleksandra Kukla
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Walter K. Kremers
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Divistion of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - William Sanchez
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Kathleen J. Yost
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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5
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Gehtland LM, Paquin RS, Andrews SM, Lee AM, Gwaltney A, Duparc M, Pfaff ER, Bailey DB. Using a Patient Portal to Increase Enrollment in a Newborn Screening Research Study: Observational Study. JMIR Pediatr Parent 2022; 5:e30941. [PMID: 35142618 PMCID: PMC8874929 DOI: 10.2196/30941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many research studies fail to enroll enough research participants. Patient-facing electronic health record applications, known as patient portals, may be used to send research invitations to eligible patients. OBJECTIVE The first aim was to determine if receipt of a patient portal research recruitment invitation was associated with enrollment in a large ongoing study of newborns (Early Check). The second aim was to determine if there were differences in opening the patient portal research recruitment invitation and study enrollment by race and ethnicity, age, or rural/urban home address. METHODS We used a computable phenotype and queried the health care system's clinical data warehouse to identify women whose newborns would likely be eligible. Research recruitment invitations were sent through the women's patient portals. We conducted logistic regressions to test whether women enrolled their newborns after receipt of a patient portal invitation and whether there were differences by race and ethnicity, age, and rural/urban home address. RESULTS Research recruitment invitations were sent to 4510 women not yet enrolled through their patient portals between November 22, 2019, through March 5, 2020. Among women who received a patient portal invitation, 3.6% (161/4510) enrolled their newborns within 27 days. The odds of enrolling among women who opened the invitation was nearly 9 times the odds of enrolling among women who did not open their invitation (SE 3.24, OR 8.86, 95% CI 4.33-18.13; P<.001). On average, it took 3.92 days for women to enroll their newborn in the study, with 64% (97/161) enrolling their newborn within 1 day of opening the invitation. There were disparities by race and urbanicity in enrollment in the study after receipt of a patient portal research invitation but not by age. Black women were less likely to enroll their newborns than White women (SE 0.09, OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16-0.55; P<.001), and women in urban zip codes were more likely to enroll their newborns than women in rural zip codes (SE 0.97, OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.62-5.67; P=.001). Black women (SE 0.05, OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.78; P<.001) and Hispanic women (SE 0.07, OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.89; P=.002) were less likely to open the research invitation compared to White women. CONCLUSIONS Patient portals are an effective way to recruit participants for research studies, but there are substantial racial and ethnic disparities and disparities by urban/rural status in the use of patient portals, the opening of a patient portal invitation, and enrollment in the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03655223; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03655223.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Gehtland
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Ryan S Paquin
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Sara M Andrews
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Adam M Lee
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Angela Gwaltney
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Martin Duparc
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Emily R Pfaff
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Donald B Bailey
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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6
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Schick-Makaroff K, Lagendyk L, Foster B, Lam NN, Braam B, Bello A, Shojai S, Wen K. Designing an App for Immunosuppression Adherence and Communication: A Qualitative Approach. Can J Kidney Health Dis 2022; 9:20543581211072330. [PMID: 35127106 PMCID: PMC8808030 DOI: 10.1177/20543581211072330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Immunosuppression nonadherence may be the most important factor limiting long-term allograft survival. Objective: Following user-centered design, we explored the essential priorities and preferences of kidney transplant recipients and healthcare providers (HCP) to inform development of a smartphone app to improve immunosuppression adherence and communication. Design: A qualitative descriptive research design was used. Setting: The University of Alberta Hospital adult kidney transplant program in Edmonton, Canada. Participants: Participants were recruited by convenience sampling and included 32 kidney transplant recipients and 11 HCPs. Methods: Seven focus groups (5 with recipients and 2 with HCPs) were conducted to inform app development. Sessions were recorded, and transcripts were coded to elucidate themes. Results: App development to improve adherence was not a priority for HCP. Recipients prioritized choice: that all features be optional. Recipients preferred support while traveling; access to laboratory results; and use by younger or newly transplanted recipients. Both recipients and HCP preferred linkage to pharmacy; and self-management and accountability. For the app to improve communication, HCPs believed the priorities to be addressed included: clarity on scope of app; legal, ethical, and professional obligations; and charting. Both recipients and HCP prioritized HCP workload, and broader medication and health concerns. Healthcare providers preferred tech support; both recipients and HCPs preferred app access for nontransplant HCP. Limitations: Limitations include underrepresentation of physicians, recipients with racial/ethnic diversity, and potential selection bias of transplant recipients who perceived themselves to be adhering to immunosuppression medications. Conclusion: Future research is needed for the app to become a comprehensive, secure platform for broader communication between recipients and HCP, pharmacies, and nontransplant clinicians while streamlining HCP workload.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bethany Foster
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ngan N. Lam
- Division of Nephrology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Branko Braam
- Division of Nephrology and Transplant Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Aminu Bello
- Division of Nephrology and Transplant Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Soroush Shojai
- Division of Nephrology and Transplant Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Kevin Wen
- Division of Nephrology and Transplant Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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7
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Schultz CL, McCahan SM, Lewis AM, Bunnell HT, Alderfer MA. Online patient portal use by caregivers in pediatric oncology: Are we widening sociodemographic disparities? Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e29373. [PMID: 34582096 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Financial and regulatory incentives have encouraged and increased the availability of online patient portals that provide caregivers access to their child's electronic health records (EHR). Such access is believed to promote better engagement and outcomes of care. Little is known about the use of portals by caregivers of children with cancer. This study sought to examine whether sociodemographic and clinical care variables are associated with portal activation in a pediatric oncology sample. METHODS Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were extracted from the EHR of pediatric oncology patients treated for their first cancer in the Nemours Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders between 2012 and 2017. A Child Opportunity Index (COI) was calculated based on home zip code. Characteristics of children whose caregivers did and did not activate the portal were compared. RESULTS Sixty-six percent of caregivers activated a portal account with a peak within 90 days of diagnosis. In logistic regression, caregivers with a younger aged child, spoke English, lived closer to the hospital, lived in higher COI area, with longer treatment length, and more radiology tests had greater odds of portal activation. Those with private health insurance or White race were overrepresented among those who activated an account in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION The majority of caregivers of children with cancer activate portal accounts; however, differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables across those who did and did not activate accounts emerged. As portals become ubiquitous, we must understand how they are used and mitigate widening inequities caused by disparate portal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna L Schultz
- Nemours Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.,Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Suzanne M McCahan
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Nemours Biomedical Research Informatics Center, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Amanda M Lewis
- Center for Healthcare Delivery Science, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - H Timothy Bunnell
- Nemours Biomedical Research Informatics Center, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Melissa A Alderfer
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Healthcare Delivery Science, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
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8
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Thompson S, Schick-Makaroff K, Bello A, Tonelli M, Wiebe N, Buzinski R, Courtney M, Szigety S, Shah N, Bohm C. Voicing Individual Concerns for Engagement in Hemodialysis (VOICE-HD): A Mixed Method, Randomized Pilot Trial of Digital Health in Dialysis Care Delivery. Can J Kidney Health Dis 2021; 8:20543581211032857. [PMID: 34377501 PMCID: PMC8323421 DOI: 10.1177/20543581211032857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People receiving in-center hemodialysis (HD) have prioritized the need for more individualized health information and better communication with nephrologists. The most common setting for patient-nephrologist interactions is during the HD treatment, which is a time pressured setting that lacks privacy. OBJECTIVE To facilitate effective communication in the hemodialysis (HD) unit, we evaluated the usability of a web application (web app) from both the patient and physician perspective. The main aim of the web app was to support patients in prioritizing their dialysis concerns outside of the clinical HD encounter. DESIGN Mixed method, parallel arm, multi-site, pilot randomized controlled trial. SETTING Two outpatient Canadian HD centers. PARTICIPANTS Adult patients receiving in-center HD and their attending nephrologists. METHODS Patients were randomized to either a web application or an active control (paper form) for logging concerns to be addressed at weekly encounters with the nephrologist over 8 weeks. Topics included: HD treatment, symptoms, modality, and medications. The primary outcome was usability, defined as effectiveness (engagement with the tool, frequency of submitted concerns, whether the concern was satisfactorily addressed) and satisfaction with the tool using a priori thresholds and explored in interviews with patients and nephrologists. RESULTS 77 patients (30 women, median age 61, interquartile range [53,67], median 2 years [1,4] on dialysis) and 19 nephrologists (4 women, median age 46 [36,65]) were enrolled. Patient use of a digital device at baseline was low (20%). Engagement with the tool was 70% (web app) and 100% (paper) with a lower proportion of patients in the web app group submitting at least one concern over 8 weeks compared to the paper form group: 56.7% vs 87.9%. Weekly concerns were satisfactorily addressed in both groups and ≥70% of patients would continue to use the tools. For patients, both tools promoted preparation and participation in the encounter; however, only the web app facilitated greater privacy in relaying concerns. For most nephrologists, the tools were disruptive to their workflow and were perceived as unnecessary given existing processes and familiarity with patients. For future versions of the app, patients suggested more features to facilitate self-management and nephrologists suggested integration with health databases and multidisciplinary teams. LIMITATIONS Tertiary setting may limit generalizability. CONCLUSIONS Both tools promoted fundamental components of self-management; however, patients in the paper form group submitted concerns more often and this tool was easier to remember to use. Although modifications would likely enhance web app usability, successful future adoption is limited by physician acceptance.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03605875.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Clara Bohm
- Department of Internal Medicine, Health
Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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9
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Nguyen OT, Watson AK, Motwani K, Warpinski C, McDilda K, Leon C, Khanna N, Nall RW, Turner K. Patient-Level Factors Associated with Utilization of Telemedicine Services from a Free Clinic During COVID-19. Telemed J E Health 2021; 28:526-534. [PMID: 34255572 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2021.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Disparities in telemedicine use by race, age, and income have been consistently documented. To date, research has focused on telemedicine use among patients with adequate insurance coverage. To address this gap, this study identifies patient-level factors associated with telemedicine use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic among one free clinic network's patients who are underinsured or uninsured. Materials and Methods: Electronic health record data were reviewed for patient-level data on patients seen from March 2020 to September 2020. Patients were grouped by telemedicine use history. We controlled for sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, race/ethnicity) and comorbidities. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: Across 198 adult patients, 56.6% received telemedicine care. Of these, 99.1% elected for audio-only telemedicine instead of video telemedicine. Telemedicine use was more likely among those living within 15 miles of their clinic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.70-11.53). It was less likely to be used by older patients (aOR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.00), patients of male sex (aOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.18-0.92), and those establishing care as a new patient (aOR = 0.01, 95% CI 0.00-0.07). Conclusion: The moderate usage of telemedicine suggests that its implementation in free clinics may be feasible. Solutions specific to patients with smartphone-only internet access are needed to improve the use of video telemedicine as smartphone-specific factors (e.g., data use limits) may influence the ability for underserved patients to receive video telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver T Nguyen
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Amelia K Watson
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kartik Motwani
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Chloe Warpinski
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Katelin McDilda
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Carlos Leon
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Neel Khanna
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ryan W Nall
- Department of Community Health and Family Medicine and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - Kea Turner
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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10
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Beal LL, Kolman JM, Jones SL, Khleif A, Menser T. Quantifying Patient Portal Use: Systematic Review of Utilization Metrics. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e23493. [PMID: 33629962 PMCID: PMC7952240 DOI: 10.2196/23493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of patient portals has been associated with positive outcomes in patient engagement and satisfaction. Portal studies have also connected portal use, as well as the nature of users' interactions with portals, and the contents of their generated data to meaningful cost and quality outcomes. Incentive programs in the United States have encouraged uptake of health information technology, including patient portals, by setting standards for meaningful use of such technology. However, despite widespread interest in patient portal use and adoption, studies on patient portals differ in actual metrics used to operationalize and track utilization, leading to unsystematic and incommensurable characterizations of use. No known review has systematically assessed the measurements used to investigate patient portal utilization. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to apply systematic review criteria to identify and compare methods for quantifying and reporting patient portal use. METHODS Original studies with quantifiable metrics of portal use published in English between 2014 and the search date of October 17, 2018, were obtained from PubMed using the Medical Subject Heading term "Patient Portals" and related keyword searches. The first search round included full text review of all results to confirm a priori data charting elements of interest and suggest additional categories inductively; this round was supplemented by the retrieval of works cited in systematic reviews (based on title screening of all citations). An additional search round included broader keywords identified during the full-text review of the first round. Second round results were screened at abstract level for inclusion and confirmed by at least two raters. Included studies were analyzed for metrics related to basic use/adoption, frequency of use, duration metrics, intensity of use, and stratification of users into "super user" or high utilizers. Additional categories related to provider (including care team/administrative) use of the portal were identified inductively. Additional analyses included metrics aligned with meaningful use stage 2 (MU-2) categories employed by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the association between the number of portal metrics examined and the number of citations and the journal impact factor. RESULTS Of 315 distinct search results, 87 met the inclusion criteria. Of the a priori metrics, plus provider use, most studies included either three (26 studies, 30%) or four (23 studies, 26%) metrics. Nine studies (10%) only reported the patient use/adoption metric and only one study (1%) reported all six metrics. Of the US-based studies (n=76), 18 (24%) were explicitly motivated by MU-2 compliance; 40 studies (53%) at least mentioned these incentives, but only 6 studies (8%) presented metrics from which compliance rates could be inferred. Finally, the number of metrics examined was not associated with either the number of citations or the publishing journal's impact factor. CONCLUSIONS Portal utilization measures in the research literature can fall below established standards for "meaningful" or they can substantively exceed those standards in the type and number of utilization properties measured. Understanding how patient portal use has been defined and operationalized may encourage more consistent, well-defined, and perhaps more meaningful standards for utilization, informing future portal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Beal
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,University of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jacob M Kolman
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stephen L Jones
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Aroub Khleif
- Ambulatory Clinical Systems, Information Technology Division, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Terri Menser
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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11
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Turner K, Clary A, Hong YR, Alishahi Tabriz A, Shea CM. Patient Portal Barriers and Group Differences: Cross-Sectional National Survey Study. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e18870. [PMID: 32940620 PMCID: PMC7530687 DOI: 10.2196/18870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Past studies examining barriers to patient portal adoption have been conducted with a small number of patients and health care settings, limiting generalizability. OBJECTIVE This study had the following two objectives: (1) to assess the prevalence of barriers to patient portal adoption among nonadopters and (2) to examine the association between nonadopter characteristics and reported barriers in a nationally representative sample. METHODS Data from this study were obtained from the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey. We calculated descriptive statistics to determine the most prevalent barriers and conducted multiple variable logistic regression analysis to examine which characteristics were associated with the reported barriers. RESULTS The sample included 4815 individuals. Among these, 2828 individuals (58.73%) had not adopted a patient portal. Among the nonadopters (n=2828), the most prevalent barriers were patient preference for in-person communication (1810/2828, 64.00%), no perceived need for the patient portal (1385/2828, 48.97%), and lack of comfort and experience with computers (735/2828, 25.99%). Less commonly, individuals reported having no patient portal (650/2828, 22.98%), no internet access (650/2828, 22.98%), privacy concerns (594/2828, 21.00%), difficulty logging on (537/2828, 18.99%), and multiple patient portals (255/2828, 9.02%) as barriers. Men had significantly lower odds of indicating a preference for speaking directly to a provider compared with women (odds ratio [OR] 0.75, 95% CI 0.60-0.94; P=.01). Older age (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02; P<.001), having a chronic condition (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.44-2.33; P<.001), and having an income lower than US $20,000 (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.11-2.34; P=.01) were positively associated with indicating a preference for speaking directly to a provider. Hispanic individuals had significantly higher odds of indicating that they had no need for a patient portal (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.24-2.05; P<.001) compared with non-Hispanic individuals. Older individuals (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.06; P<.001), individuals with less than a high school diploma (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.79-5.53; P<.001), and individuals with a household income of less than US $20,000 (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.88-4.11; P<.001) had significantly higher odds of indicating that they were uncomfortable with a computer. CONCLUSIONS The most common barriers to patient portal adoption are preference for in-person communication, not having a need for the patient portal, and feeling uncomfortable with computers, which are barriers that are modifiable and can be intervened upon. Patient characteristics can help predict which patients are most likely to experience certain barriers to patient portal adoption. Further research is needed to tailor implementation approaches based on patients' needs and preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kea Turner
- Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Alecia Clary
- Center for Healthcare Transformation, Avalere Health, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Young-Rock Hong
- Department of Health Services Research, Management, and Policy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Amir Alishahi Tabriz
- Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Christopher M Shea
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Gordon WJ, Bates DW, Fuchs D, Pappas J, Silacci S, Landman A. Comparing Characteristics of Patients Who Connect Their iPhones to an Electronic Health Records System Versus Patients Who Connect Without Personal Devices: Cohort Study. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e14871. [PMID: 31441430 PMCID: PMC6727627 DOI: 10.2196/14871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While individual access to health records has traditionally been through paper and other physical media, there has been a recent push toward digitizing this process. Direct patient access to health data through application programming interfaces (APIs) is an important part of current United States policy initiatives, and Apple has created the product "Health Records on iPhone" to leverage APIs for this purpose. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of patients at our institution who connected their personal iPhone devices to our electronic health records (EHRs) system through "Health Records on iPhone", as compared to patients at our institution who used our patient portal but did not connect a personal device to our system. METHODS We examined adult patients at our institution who had authorized an iPhone device to download their health data from the Partners HealthCare EHR via APIs through "Health Records on iPhone" from February 18, 2018 (the date this feature was enabled at our health system) until February 17, 2019. We compared these patients to adult patients who used our portal at least once during this period but did not authorize an iPhone device to download their data via APIs. RESULTS Variables associated with an increased likelihood of using "Health Records on iPhone" included male gender (adjusted OR 3.36; 95% CI 3.11-3.62; P<.001) and younger age, particularly below 50 years of age. With each decade of age over 50, people were less likely to be "Health Records on iPhone" product users. Asian patients were more likely to use the product than Caucasian patients (adjusted OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.16-1.51; P<.001), though there was no significant difference between African Americans and Caucasians (adjusted OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.94-1.41; P=.17). Patients who resided in higher ZIP code income quartiles were more likely to be users than those in the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS Early results from the implementation of patient-facing APIs at a single institution suggest that there are opportunities for expanding these technologies to ensure all patients are aware of, and have access to, their health data on their personal devices. More work is needed on expanding these technologies to different patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Gordon
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Partners HealthCare, Somerville, MA, United States
| | - David W Bates
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Daniel Fuchs
- Partners HealthCare, Somerville, MA, United States
| | - John Pappas
- Partners HealthCare, Somerville, MA, United States
| | - Sara Silacci
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Adam Landman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Partners HealthCare, Somerville, MA, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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