RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Perceptions of adopters versus non-adopters of a patient portal: an application of diffusion of innovation theory
JF BMJ Health & Care Informatics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 149
OP 157
DO 10.14236/jhi.v25i3.991
VO 25
IS 3
A1 Srinivas Emani
A1 Ellen Peters
A1 Sonali Desai
A1 Andrew S. Karson
A1 Stuart R. Lipsitz
A1 Rajani LaRocca
A1 John Stone
A1 Vlad Suric
A1 Jonathan S. Wald
A1 Amy Wheeler
A1 Deborah H. Williams
A1 David W. Bates
YR 2018
UL http://informatics.bmj.com/content/25/3/149.abstract
AB 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.