Parent intention to use a patient portal as related to their children following a facilitated demonstration

Abstract

Objective: To describe parent feedback and intention to use the patient portal related to their children's health records after a facilitated learning session. Patient portals are Internet-based, self-service models for health account information and records that allow patients or parents to be more proactive in their healthcare. Materials and Methods: A navigator demonstrated the patient portal to parents using on-site kiosks at a pediatric clinic. Parents ≥18 years of age completed an institutional review board–approved survey. Results: Of those approached, 171 (54%) parents participated in the demonstration; 64 (37%) completed surveys. Average age was 28 years (standard deviation 7), and most were white (26, 40%) or Hispanic (14, 22%). Most (46, 72%) did not know about the patient portal prior to demonstration; of those who did, only five (28%) had used it. Following demonstration, the majority (59, 92%) thought the patient portal was easy to use. Parents planned to view medical records and laboratory results but disliked having separate accounts for each child and the lack of a “symptom checker.” Many (44, 69%) planned for future use. The majority (62, 97%) found the navigator helpful, and (37, 58%) wanted access to the patient portal via on-site kiosks. Conclusions: Although most parents had no prior experience with the patient portal, they were satisfied overall with ease of use and offered features. Clinics should consider (1) hands-on demonstrations of the patient portal to encourage understanding and use and (2) alternative access venues if home computers are not available.