Courtney R. Lyles|Urmimala Sarkar|Dean Schillinger|James D. Ralston|Jill Y. Allen|Robert Nguyen|Andrew J. Karter
Refilling medications through an online patient portal: consistent improvements in adherence across racial/ethnic groups
Kaiser Permanente|San Francisco General Hospital|University of California, San Francisco|San Francisco General Hospital|University of California, San Francisco|San Francisco General Hospital|University of California, San Francisco|Kaiser Permanente|Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute|Kaiser Permanente|Kaiser Permanente|Kaiser Permanente
abstract objective online patient portals widely implemented however studies examined whether portals influence health behaviors outcomes similarly across patient racialethnic subgroups evaluated longitudinal changes statin adherence determine whether racialethnic minorities initiating use online refill function patient portals similar changes time compared whites methods examined retrospective cohort diabetes patients existing patient portal users primary exposure initiating online refill use either exclusively statin refills occasionally refills compared using portal tasks eg exchanging secure messages providers primary outcome change statin adherence measured percentage time patient without supply statins adjusted generalized estimating equation models controlled raceethnicity primary interaction term results fiftyeight percent patient portal users white racialethnic minority groups poorer baseline statin adherence compared whites adjusted differenceindifference models statin adherence improved significantly time among patients exclusively refilled prescriptions online even comparing changes time portal users 4 absolute decrease percentage time without medication improvement statistically similar across racialethnic groups discussion patient portals may encourage improve key health behaviors medication adherence engaged patients research likely required reduce underlying racialethnic differences adherence conclusion wellcontrolled examination diabetes patients behavior using new online feature healthcare management patient portals linked better medication adherence across racialethnic groups