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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Patient Portal Use Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nina Sakhnini1, Debaleena Chattopadhyay1
1Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Proceedings. IEEE International Conference on Healthcare Informatics
|August 15, 2026
Summary
Older adults are increasingly using patient portals for health management, with about 55% having tried them. However, sustained engagement with these digital health tools remains a key area for further research and development.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Gerontology
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Patient portals are key digital tools for managing health information.
- Their role is growing as healthcare delivery becomes more digital-centered.
- Understanding older adults' use and sustained engagement is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze portal use among older adults.
- To examine the prevalence of patient portal adoption and continued use in this demographic.
- To identify factors influencing sustained engagement with digital health tools.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 2005 and 2025.
- Inclusion of 52 studies in the systematic review and 18 in the meta-analysis.
- Analysis of 1,487 unique records to assess portal usage patterns.
Main Results:
- Pooled estimates indicate approximately 55% of older adults have ever used a patient portal.
- Around 48% of older adults are identified as continuing users of these portals.
- Publication year significantly moderated 'ever use,' showing increasing uptake over time (OR/year = 1.39).
Conclusions:
- Patient portal adoption among older adults is increasing over time.
- While initial adoption is substantial, factors influencing sustained use require further investigation.
- Digital health engagement strategies should consider the evolving patterns of older adult portal utilization.
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