Internet Access Influences Community Clinic Portal Use

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health Equity
• Primary Care Technology Adoption

Background:

• Patient portals offer enhanced healthcare engagement but require digital literacy.
• Understanding barriers to patient portal use is crucial for equitable access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate internet access and digital experience for patient portal use among community clinic attendees.
• To examine how education, income, and health perception influence patient portal utilization.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to adult primary care patients in an urban community clinic.
• Data collected included internet access, digital tool use, and past/anticipated patient portal use.
• Descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• 87% had over a year of internet experience; 42% had prior patient portal use.
• Weekly internet use and smartphone access correlated with past portal use (p=0.02).
• Computer internet access predicted future portal use (OR 9.9), linked to income (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Computer and smartphone access are associated with patient portal use in this demographic.
• Digital access remains a critical factor for patient portal engagement, even in educated populations.