Use of Patient Portals in Older Adults: A Comparison of Three Samples

Recently, there have been national efforts to use patient portals (PPs) to engage patients in their care. Through PPs, patient can access their health records and communicate with care providers. These functions can be beneficial for older adults who manage multiple chronic conditions. The current nationwide PP implementation, however, lacks strategies for facilitating PP use in older adults. As a first step to fill this gap, this study examined the prevalence of PP use among older adults, the demographic characteristics of older adult PP users, and self-efficacy for using PPs using three samples (two national, one local). Findings suggest that older adult online users are receptive to PPs and can use them like other age groups. Approaches to engage older adults in PP use may differ from those for younger adults, as they have additional support needs. Further research is needed to identify optimal approaches to support older adult populations.