P0008 - Acceptability and feasibility of Patient Portal as a tool to promote Adolescent and Young Adult Self-Management Skills towards Transition of Care

Background: Failure to properly transfer to adult care is associated with increased demand on pediatric providers untrained in adult medicine, gaps in healthcare and poor health outcome in the Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA). Our practice serves mainly low-income patients of Latino descents from birth to age 25. Despite an existing transition policy and patient navigator to support AYA patients transfer to adult care, many seem to lack skills necessary to transfer timely to adult medicine.

Objective: Examine whether providing education and promotion of a patient portal increase self-management skills towards transition readiness.

Methods: Single site feasibility study using mixed methods research in 2 phases: (1) educational intervention with pre- and post- surveys adapted from the TRAQ (Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire) to assess participant self-management skills and patient portal use (2) participants patient portal user experience through a 30 minutes semi-structured interview. 78 participants age 13 to 25 were recruited at an urban community health center, most qualify for Medicaid. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess the change pre to post intervention. Semi-structured interview recruitment was conducted until thematic saturation was reached, 14 participants were recruited. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and then analyzed for emergent themes using principles of framework analysis.

Results: Out of 78 participants 47 (60%) completed the surveys. Access to the portal increased significantly within 3 weeks after the intervention, the median number of logins per patient was 2 (range 1-36), statistically significantly higher than baseline (p<0.0001). There was a significant statistical increase to knowing how to access to personal health information (PHI) 26-76% (p<0.0001). In general, portal user experience was positive, with 43-51% users “strongly agree” and 85-91% at least “agree” with the statements that they like portal, it is easy to use and access, and will use it again.

Conclusion: AYA like the use of a patient portal and it does improved their self-management skills particularly in two areas access to PHI and general health awareness.