Barriers to Patient Portal Adoption Among a Bilingual Patient Population by Analysis of Survey Findings from English- and Spanish-Speaking Patients: Information Needs Study
Objective: The purpose of this article was to advance understanding of potential barriers to patient portal adoption, explore willingness to adopt an electronic portal, and examine differences between language preferences. Materials and Methods: English and Spanish-speaking patients (N=107) were surveyed from a community clinic. Linear and logistic regressions were performed to predict the probability that patients would adopt the patient portal. Results: Only 65% of participants said they envisioned themselves using the patient portal. Participants reported barriers such as stronger preference for in-person communication with their physician, concerns about privacy, language difficulties, lack of comfort with portals, and poor design. Spanish-speaking patients were more willing to get e-info about medication reminders, diagnostic, and vital signs, than English speakers. Conclusion: Understanding cultural differences and empowering patients to have more autonomy over their health and decision-making leads to a more meaningful experience with their physicians potentially overcoming low health literacy-related barriers.
