Factors That Influence Use of a Patient Portal by Health Professionals

Abstract

Patient portals are websites or apps that provide patients with tools to manage healthcare appointments, access their health records, and communicate with clinicians. Patient portals have been demonstrated to be beneficial for improving communication between patients/carers and their healthcare team in a range of health settings. However, there is limited research on the barriers and enablers for implementing patient portals from the perspective of health professionals and healthcare teams, particularly in a paediatric setting. This study aimed to understand healthcare teams’ experiences of using a patient portal and, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, explore the barriers and enablers to ongoing use. Participants were 11 health professionals participating in the pilot of a patient portal for patients/carers in paediatric care. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the interview data identified nine themes about implementing a patient portal in paediatric care, all of which aligned with the four constructs of the UTAUT. This study identified that barriers and enablers of the uptake of a patient portal by health professionals in a paediatric context aligned with the UTAUT framework. Value for the patient, improved workflow, and adequate technical and implementation support were highlighted by participants.