Patient-centered communication, disparities, and patient portals in the US, 2017-2022

To identify the relationship between patient-centered communication and portal offers and use among insured adult patients and to understand the role of patient-centered communication in equitable access to portals.

Using data from 4 cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey across 2017-2022, we determined how patient-centered communication and sociodemographic characteristics of adult insured patients in the US are associated with offers of and access to online patient portals.

We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine associations of patient-centered communication and sociodemographic characteristics of adult insured patients in the US with offers of and access to online patient portals.

Across the period of 2017-2022, approximately two-thirds of insured adult patients on average reported being offered a patient portal, and approximately half reported accessing a portal. Patients with lower-than-average patient-centered communication and those who are men, are Hispanic, have less than a college degree, and have no internet are less likely than their counterparts to report being offered or accessing a portal.

Although patient-centered communication is an important factor in facilitating patient portal offers and access, it does not appear to be a driver of demographic divides in portal use.