27 February 2023

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Dental patients’ perceptions of and desired content from patient health portals

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Background

Patient health portals (PHPs) encourage patient engagement to improve the patient’s experience of care, improve population health, reduce health care costs and improve the work life of health care providers. The purpose of this study was to capture dental patients’ perspectives on PHPs and their desired content. Specifically, the authors examined the important features for dental patients to have as well as the barriers and facilitators of PHPs.

Methods

The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of adult patients attending the predoctoral, faculty and resident clinics at an academic dental center from July through October 2020. Patients were invited to complete an 18-item self-administered survey. The survey captured patient demographics, preferences, desired content, and facilitators and barriers of PHPs. The authors performed descriptive statistical analysis and bivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 325 people participated in the survey. Most participants had a bachelor’s degree, internet access, government insurance and a combined household income of more than $50,000 per year. Completed procedures, past visit summaries and date of last visit were the top three types of information patients desired in dental health PHPs. The top three desired oral health topics in PHPs included signs of gingival disease and proper management, caries prevention and proper toothbrushing and flossing techniques. Highest perceived barriers included high cost and privacy and security concerns. Highest perceived facilitators included user-friendly portals and monitoring personal health.

Conclusions

This study highlights dental patients’ preferences for a PHP and can inform the development of dental PHPs. Dentists must overcome identified barriers to increase patient engagement in using dental PHPs.

Practical Implications

Implementing the patient-identified features in a dental PHP will help improve the quality of oral health care delivery by increasing patient engagement and improving the patient’s experience.

Semira Amirkiai and Dr. Enihomo Obadan-Udoh. "Dental patients’ perceptions of and desired content from patient health portals." JADA. 21 Feb. 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2022.12.010