Samuel G. Smith|Rachel O’Conor|William Aitken|Laura M. Curtis|Michael S. Wolf|Mita Sanghavi Goel
Disparities in registration and use of an online patient portal among older adults: findings from the LitCog cohort
Northwestern University|Queen Mary University of London|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University
abstract objective document disparities registration use online patient portal among older adults materials methods data 534 older adults linked information northwestern medicine electronic data warehouse patient portal registration use functions secure messaging prescription reauthorizations checking test results monitoring vital statistics age gender race education selfreported chronic conditions newest vital sign health literacy measure available cohort data results patients 934 patient portal access code generated among 575 registered accounts multivariable analyses white patients p amplt 001 college graduates likely registered patient portal p 015 patients marginal p 034 adequate p amplt 001 health literacy also likely registered patient portal among registering accounts messaged physician 90 checked test result 96 ordered reauthorization 55 monitored vital statistics 11 adequate health literacy patients likely used messaging function p 003 white patients likely accessed test results p 004 higher education consistently associated prescription reauthorization requests p amplt 05 discussion among older american adults stark health literacy educational racial disparities registration subsequent use online patient portal population subgroup differences may exacerbate existing health disparities conclusions patient portals implemented intervention strategies needed monitor reduce disparities use