Electronic patient portals are a convenient way to access medical records and connect with doctors, but older adults tend to have trouble using these systems, a new report finds.
A team from the University of Houston showed that older adults are more likely to utilize online healthcare portals compared to younger adults. But that doesn’t mean they have an easy time doing so. In fact, their level of proficiency is tied to their cognitive function, the authors said.
The study was published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.
“Older adults made more errors while navigating a health website to read their lab results, communicate with providers and schedule an appointment as compared to younger adults,” Steven Paul Woods, professor of psychology, said.
“We also observed that cognitive functioning played a significant role in the age-related problems with using these online patient portals.”
The team looked at two groups of people: 49 people who were 18 to 35 years old, and 35 people between 50 and 75 years old. The groups completed the Test of Online Health Records Navigation (TOHRN), a website controlled by the study team that required them to log in, peek at lab results, schedule an appointment and review messages from their healthcare provider. They also had to complete questionnaires and report on their health literacy and overall function, as well as take part in cognitive tests.
“Internet navigation can place demands on several brain networks and cognitive abilities that commonly decline with age,” Woods said. “For example, we use visual and motor skills to navigate the contents on a page using a keyboard, mouse or touchscreen, memory to recall passwords and relevant search terms, and executive functions to problem-solve, plan and carry out specific goals online.”
“As these portals become more prevalent, it’s important to ensure that they are accessible and usable for older adults and other groups that may experience cognitive changes,” he continued.
Woods found similar results in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had to use patient portals. The issues were due to memory and executive function issues. Other research found about 75% of people between the ages of 50 and 80 use at least one healthcare portal, but their confidence and usage were lower in those who had lower physical or mental health, as well as lower income levels.
In the future, Woods suggests that studies look at the benefits of web design enhancement, training and cognitive support to help older adults better navigate electronic patient portals.
