The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature Review
BackgroundPatient portals are becoming increasingly popular worldwide even though their impact on individual health and health system efficiency is still unclear. ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidence on the impact of patient portals...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2021/9/e26189 |
| _version_ | 1797735711892307968 |
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| author | Elettra Carini Leonardo Villani Angelo Maria Pezzullo Andrea Gentili Andrea Barbara Walter Ricciardi Stefania Boccia |
| author_facet | Elettra Carini Leonardo Villani Angelo Maria Pezzullo Andrea Gentili Andrea Barbara Walter Ricciardi Stefania Boccia |
| author_sort | Elettra Carini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundPatient portals are becoming increasingly popular worldwide even though their impact on individual health and health system efficiency is still unclear.
ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidence on the impact of patient portals on health outcomes and health care efficiency, and to examine user characteristics, attitudes, and satisfaction.
MethodsWe searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles published from January 1, 2013, to October 31, 2019. Eligible studies were primary studies reporting on the impact of patient portal adoption in relation to health outcomes, health care efficiency, and patient attitudes and satisfaction. We excluded studies where portals were not accessible for patients and pilot studies, with the exception of articles evaluating patient attitudes.
ResultsOverall, 3456 records were screened, and 47 articles were included. Among them, 11 studies addressed health outcomes reporting positive results, such as better monitoring of health status, improved patient-doctor interaction, and improved quality of care. Fifteen studies evaluated the impact of digital patient portals on the utilization of health services with mixed results. Patient characteristics were described in 32 studies, and it was reported that the utilization rate usually increases with age and female gender. Finally, 30 studies described attitudes and defined the main barriers (concerns about privacy and data security, and lack of time) and facilitators (access to clinical data and laboratory results) to the use of a portal.
ConclusionsEvidence regarding health outcomes is generally favorable, and patient portals have the potential to enhance the doctor-patient relationship, improve health status awareness, and increase adherence to therapy. It is still unclear whether the use of patient portals improves health service utilization and efficiency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:03:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-088d19ec80a04bb98a141b0d8b45feeb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:03:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-088d19ec80a04bb98a141b0d8b45feeb2023-08-28T19:01:15ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712021-09-01239e2618910.2196/26189The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature ReviewElettra Carinihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9422-3285Leonardo Villanihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9375-8731Angelo Maria Pezzullohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8252-4654Andrea Gentilihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8975-6186Andrea Barbarahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-4537Walter Ricciardihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5655-688XStefania Bocciahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1864-749X BackgroundPatient portals are becoming increasingly popular worldwide even though their impact on individual health and health system efficiency is still unclear. ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidence on the impact of patient portals on health outcomes and health care efficiency, and to examine user characteristics, attitudes, and satisfaction. MethodsWe searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles published from January 1, 2013, to October 31, 2019. Eligible studies were primary studies reporting on the impact of patient portal adoption in relation to health outcomes, health care efficiency, and patient attitudes and satisfaction. We excluded studies where portals were not accessible for patients and pilot studies, with the exception of articles evaluating patient attitudes. ResultsOverall, 3456 records were screened, and 47 articles were included. Among them, 11 studies addressed health outcomes reporting positive results, such as better monitoring of health status, improved patient-doctor interaction, and improved quality of care. Fifteen studies evaluated the impact of digital patient portals on the utilization of health services with mixed results. Patient characteristics were described in 32 studies, and it was reported that the utilization rate usually increases with age and female gender. Finally, 30 studies described attitudes and defined the main barriers (concerns about privacy and data security, and lack of time) and facilitators (access to clinical data and laboratory results) to the use of a portal. ConclusionsEvidence regarding health outcomes is generally favorable, and patient portals have the potential to enhance the doctor-patient relationship, improve health status awareness, and increase adherence to therapy. It is still unclear whether the use of patient portals improves health service utilization and efficiency.https://www.jmir.org/2021/9/e26189 |
| spellingShingle | Elettra Carini Leonardo Villani Angelo Maria Pezzullo Andrea Gentili Andrea Barbara Walter Ricciardi Stefania Boccia The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature Review Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature Review |
| title_full | The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature Review |
| title_short | The Impact of Digital Patient Portals on Health Outcomes, System Efficiency, and Patient Attitudes: Updated Systematic Literature Review |
| title_sort | impact of digital patient portals on health outcomes system efficiency and patient attitudes updated systematic literature review |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2021/9/e26189 |
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