Predictors of Patient Portal Use Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Maan Isabella Cajita, Marci Lee Nilsen, Taya Irizarry and 6 others
PMID 32966584WHAT IT FOUND
52% of older adults reported using a patient portal.
Being married or living with a partner, using technology for health, and having confidence to manage health were linked to portal use.
Key findings
01Fifty-two of 100 older adults reported using a patient portal, including use with assistance.
02Being married or living with a significant other was associated with portal use and remained significant in the final model for any portal use.
03High patient activation was associated with independent portal use and remained significant in the final model for independent portal use.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small, with 100 participants, so the study may have been underpowered. Participants were recruited from one geographic area by convenience sampling, and minority ethnic groups were under-represented, so findings may not apply broadly. The 52% portal use rate was higher than a national report of 28%, but the studies used different sampling methods, so the difference may reflect selection bias. The design was cross-sectional, so it can show associations but cannot show that any factor caused portal use or that portal use predicted outcomes. Portal use was self-reported, not objectively measured, which may affect validity. Health literacy was measured with a single item, which may limit reliability.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these results as proof that nurses can increase portal use by recommending it, or that portal use improves health. The study was cross-sectional, used convenience sampling, and measured portal use by self-report, so it cannot show cause or benefit.