Daniel M. Walker|Jennifer L Hefner|Naleef Fareed|Timothy R. Huerta|Ann Scheck McAlearney
Exploring the Digital Divide: Age and Race Disparities in Use of an Inpatient Portal
The Ohio State University|The Ohio State University|The Ohio State University|The Ohio State University|The Ohio State University
background age race disparities use new technologiesthe digital dividemay limiting potential patientfacing health information technology improve health health care objective investigate whether disparities exist use patient portals designed specifically inpatient environment methods patients admitted six hospitals affiliated large midwestern academic medical center july 2017 july 2018 provided access tablet equipped inpatient portal recruited participate study n 842 demographic characteristics study enrollees obtained patients electronic health records surveys given patients hospital stay log files inpatient portal used create global measure use calculate use rates specific portal features results found age race disparities use inpatient portal patients aged 6069 453 difference p 0001 age 70 367 difference p 004 used inpatient portal less patients aged 1829 addition african american patients used portal less white patients 404 difference p 0004 discussion findings suggest availability technology alone may insufficient overcome barriers use additional intervention may needed close digital divide conclusions identified lower use inpatient portal among african american older patients relative white younger patients respectively