Internet portal use in an academic multiple sclerosis center

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Neurology
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• The increasing reliance on digital health tools necessitates understanding their use among specific patient populations.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients often face physical challenges that may impact their ability to access online resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utilization patterns and barriers of a secure internet patient portal within an academic Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center.
• To identify patient characteristics and factors influencing portal adoption and usage.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control chart review of 240 MS patients from 2008-2009.
• Analysis of demographic, clinical data, and portal usage metrics.
• Logistic regression to determine predictors and barriers to portal use.

Main Results:

• Portal users were typically younger professionals with less physical disability.
• Secure messaging was the most frequent feature used, primarily for medication requests and reporting side effects.
• Key predictors and barriers included number of medications, Caucasian ethnicity, arm/hand disability, and impaired vision.

Conclusions:

• Physical limitations significantly impact internet portal access for MS patients.
• Technological adaptations like voice commands and adjustable font sizes are crucial for enhancing accessibility.
• Further research should investigate the impact of portal technology on healthcare resource utilization and cost.