Disparities in family health-related internet and email use in the general pediatrics setting.

Abstract

Consumer-centered health information is increasingly accessible through the internet1. Many electronic health records (EHRs) offer internet portals for patient/provider communication2. Likewise, many websites address parents’ concerns about child health. However, parents may not have equal access to online technology, since using these technologies requires both financial resources and computer literacy3. Prior research has demonstrated disparities in use of health information technology (HIT) along racial/ethnic and socioeconomic lines2: Studies have found that minority patients and patients with limited English proficiency enroll in and use patient portals less than English speaking, non-Hispanic whites4,5. However, few studies assess disparities in use of HIT to communicate with health care providers, and none have assessed disparities in a pediatric setting. Understanding how families use online technology, and which families are more likely to use it, may allow for better provider/family communication. Additionally, access to online communication with providers is a key quality metric for Meaningful Use of EHRs, a federal incentive program requiring providers and health care facilities to adopt, implement, or upgrade EHR technologies. To meet Stage 2 Meaningful Use criteria, providers are required to “Use secure electronic messaging to communicate with patients on relevant health information.”6 Thus, access to these technologies in underserved populations may also be of financial interest to pediatric providers. The goal of this study was to understand which patient, family, and technology use characteristics were associated with overall internet use for health information, as well as internet use to communicate with a health care provider, with a particular focus on underserved families who might have less access to HIT.