Faculty Collaboration Database

Who adopts a patient portal?: An application of the diffusion of innovation model. J Innov Health Inform 2018 Oct 25;25(3):149-157

Date

11/07/2018

Pubmed ID

30398458

DOI

10.14236/jhi.v25i3.991

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85056275159 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   24 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patient portals have emerged as an important tool through which patients can access online health information and engage in their health care. However, we know little about how patients perceive portals and whether patient perceptions might influence portal adoption.

OBJECTIVE: Apply the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory to assess perceptions of adopters and non-adopters of a patient portal.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adopters and non-adopters of the portal. Our survey consisted of perceived attributes from the DOI theory, socio-demographic characteristics and patient perceptions of technology adoption.

RESULTS: Three factors representing perceived attributes from DOI theory accounted for 73% of the variance in the data: Factor 1 - Relative Advantage (27%); Factor 2 - Ease of Use (24%) and Factor 3 - Trialability (22%). Adopters perceived greater Relative Advantage [mean (SD)] = 3.8 (0.71) versus 3.2 (0.89), p < 0.001, Ease of Use = 4.1 (0.71) versus 3.3 (0.95), p < 0.001 and Trialability = 4.0 (0.57) versus 3.4 (0.99), p < 0.001 than non-adopters. In multivariate modelling, age [OR = 3.75, 95% CI: (2.17, 6.46), p < 0.001] and income [OR = 1.87, 95% CI: (1.17, 3.00), p < 0.01] predicted adoption of the portal. Among DOI factors, Relative advantage predicted adoption of the portal [OR = 1.48, 95% CI: (1.03, 2.11), p < 0.05].

CONCLUSION: Patients will adopt a patient portal if they perceive it to offer a relative advantage over existing practices such as telephoning or visiting the doctor's office. Organisations seeking to increase the adoption of patient portals should implement strategies to promote the relative advantage of portals as, for example, through posters in waiting and exam rooms. A digital divide in the adoption of patient portals may exist with respect to age and income.

Author List

Emani S, Peters E, Desai S, Karson AS, Lipsitz SR, LaRocca R, Stone J, Suric V, Wald JS, Wheeler A, Williams DH, Bates DW

Author

Vladimir Suric MD Assistant Professor in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Attitude to Computers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diffusion of Innovation
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Portals
Perception
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
User-Computer Interface