Presentation
PS9 - Patient Enrollment in Portals to Promote Smoking Cessation Efforts in New York Poverty Areas
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionFederally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are essential community clinics that provide comprehensive primary and preventive care to individuals in underserved areas [1]. As of July 2024, there are around 1,400 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) operating more than 19,000 service sites in the United States and its territories [1] and serving more than 30.5 million patients [2]. As of 2019, more than 91% of FQHC patients reported incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level [2, 3]. Many efforts are being implemented in the FQHC settings to promote cancer prevention and control [4]. Some of these initiatives are patient portal-based [5, 6].
Patient portals (PP) have the potential to support outreach strategies that aim to promote awareness and engagement in health support initiatives [6-8]. For example, a study by McCleary et al. resorted to patient portals in ambulatory oncology practices to improve cancer patients’ engagement in care [9]. Another study by Matthews et al. used patient portals to link patients to smoking cessation initiatives using tailored communication strategies to patients served by FQHCs [10]. Asynchronous physician-assisted smoking cessation interventions were also done using electronic portal messaging as per a study presented by Erdmann et al. [11]. Several systematic reviews reported that PP interventions lead to various improvements in health outcomes [12]. Improvements were noted in health knowledge, self-confidence, patient decision-making, adherence, and increased use of preventative services and patient-provider relationships [12, 13]. Nevertheless, patient portal access remains low, which impacts the success of such interventions [14, 15].
Research has shown that although the trend of patient portal usage has been increasing over the years, it remains low among the general population [16]. Vulnerable populations often demonstrate lower health literacy and experience significant barriers to care [17]. Portal features such as messaging, online education, and automatic medication refills might increase convenience, improve health literacy, and overcome at least some barriers to care, thereby reducing health inequities [17, 18]. Unfortunately, a study by Grossman et al. stated in 2019 that more than 100 studies show substantial health-equity–relevant disparities in portal use among older adults, racial minorities, as well as people with low socioeconomic status [18-20]. Relatively low portal use in vulnerable populations may lead to intervention-generated inequity [21]. Thus, developing, implementing and evaluating strategies to reduce disparities in portal usage remains critical to ensuring portals benefit all populations [18]. Similarly, increasing the uptake of electronic health record (EHR)-linked patient portals in FQHC settings could help transform prevention and control strategies for cancer and other chronic diseases [10].
Low enrollment can be linked to the absence of support on enrollment and unawareness of the benefits of portals [7]. Studies have shown that individually focused interventions have the most evidence for increasing portal use in vulnerable populations [18, 22-25]. Patients are more likely to enroll and use their portals if encouraged by their healthcare providers and by patient navigators [26, 27]. This study describes the training, preliminary results, and lessons learned from using patient navigators and patient education approaches to increase the enrollment of low-income patients affiliated with three FQHCs in New York in the health system–supported and electronic health record–linked patient portals.
Patient portals (PP) have the potential to support outreach strategies that aim to promote awareness and engagement in health support initiatives [6-8]. For example, a study by McCleary et al. resorted to patient portals in ambulatory oncology practices to improve cancer patients’ engagement in care [9]. Another study by Matthews et al. used patient portals to link patients to smoking cessation initiatives using tailored communication strategies to patients served by FQHCs [10]. Asynchronous physician-assisted smoking cessation interventions were also done using electronic portal messaging as per a study presented by Erdmann et al. [11]. Several systematic reviews reported that PP interventions lead to various improvements in health outcomes [12]. Improvements were noted in health knowledge, self-confidence, patient decision-making, adherence, and increased use of preventative services and patient-provider relationships [12, 13]. Nevertheless, patient portal access remains low, which impacts the success of such interventions [14, 15].
Research has shown that although the trend of patient portal usage has been increasing over the years, it remains low among the general population [16]. Vulnerable populations often demonstrate lower health literacy and experience significant barriers to care [17]. Portal features such as messaging, online education, and automatic medication refills might increase convenience, improve health literacy, and overcome at least some barriers to care, thereby reducing health inequities [17, 18]. Unfortunately, a study by Grossman et al. stated in 2019 that more than 100 studies show substantial health-equity–relevant disparities in portal use among older adults, racial minorities, as well as people with low socioeconomic status [18-20]. Relatively low portal use in vulnerable populations may lead to intervention-generated inequity [21]. Thus, developing, implementing and evaluating strategies to reduce disparities in portal usage remains critical to ensuring portals benefit all populations [18]. Similarly, increasing the uptake of electronic health record (EHR)-linked patient portals in FQHC settings could help transform prevention and control strategies for cancer and other chronic diseases [10].
Low enrollment can be linked to the absence of support on enrollment and unawareness of the benefits of portals [7]. Studies have shown that individually focused interventions have the most evidence for increasing portal use in vulnerable populations [18, 22-25]. Patients are more likely to enroll and use their portals if encouraged by their healthcare providers and by patient navigators [26, 27]. This study describes the training, preliminary results, and lessons learned from using patient navigators and patient education approaches to increase the enrollment of low-income patients affiliated with three FQHCs in New York in the health system–supported and electronic health record–linked patient portals.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 314:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationFrontenac Foyer
Digital Health (DH)
Simulation and Education (SE)
Hospital Environments (HE)
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices (MDD)
Patient Safety and Research Initiatives (PS)