Family perceptions of the usability and value of chronic disease web-based patient portals

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Health Informatics
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Chronic childhood conditions require significant parental involvement in care management.
• Web-based patient portals offer a digital platform for healthcare information access and communication.
• Understanding parental perceptions is crucial for optimizing patient portal utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess parental perceptions of usability and value of web-based patient portals.
• To identify factors influencing portal adoption among parents of children with chronic conditions.
• To explore the impact of patient portals on parental understanding and management of pediatric chronic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional telephone survey design.
• Semistructured interviews conducted at a tertiary children's hospital.
• Data collection on parent experiences, portal value, and reasons for non-use.

Main Results:

• Most parents found portal information accurate, timely, and useful.
• Confidentiality and access to sensitive information were not major concerns.
• Parents reported improved understanding and management of their child's condition via the portal.

Conclusions:

• Web-based patient portals are perceived as valuable tools by parents of children with chronic diseases.
• Portals can enhance parental engagement and improve the management of pediatric chronic conditions.
• The findings support the integration of patient portals into routine pediatric chronic care.