Communicating with Vulnerable Patient Populations: A Randomized Intervention to Teach Inpatients to Use the Electronic Patient Portal.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patient portals are expanding as a means to engage patients and have evidence for benefit in the outpatient setting. However, few studies have evaluated their use in the inpatient setting, or with vulnerable patient populations.

Objective

This article assesses an intervention to teach hospitalized vulnerable patients to access their discharge summaries using electronic patient portals.

Methods

Patients at a safety net hospital were randomly assigned to portal use education or usual care. Surveys assessed perceptions of discharge paperwork and the electronic portal.

Results

Of the 202 prescreened eligible patients (e.g., deemed mentally competent, spoke English, and had a telephone), only 43% had working emails. Forty-four percent of participants did

SUBMITTER: Stein JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6291377 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature