Patient Portal Use, Health Information Technology Self-Efficacy, Electronic Health Literacy, and Self-Management among Patients with Heart Failure: A Cross Sectional Study

Author

Pamel KallmertenFollow

Defense Date

7-1-2021

Graduation Date

Summer 8-7-2021

Availability

One-year Embargo

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Nursing

School

School of Nursing

Committee Chair

Melanie T. Turk

Committee Member

Karen Jakub

Committee Member

Eun-Shim Nahm

Keywords

Patient Portal, Heart Failure, Health Information Technology, Self-Management

Abstract

Background: By the year 2030, the prevalence of heart failure (HF) is anticipated to rise by 46%, impacting over 8 billion persons. Self-management of HF is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and quality of life. Yet many have sub-optimal self-management skills necessitating innovative strategies to enhance self-management. An innovative strategy to support the person with HF is the use of health information technology (HIT) such as a patient portal (PP). Additionally, self-efficacy and health literacy are important to self-management of HF. Further understanding is needed of the relationship between PP use, HIT self-efficacy (HIT SE), electronic health literacy (eHL) and self-management among persons with HF. Objective: To describe patient portal use among persons with HF, explore differences in PP use based on demographic characteristics, and examine associations between the key variables of PP use, HIT SE, eHL, and self-management of HF. Methods: A cross sectional design with an anonymous electronic survey was used to collect data on: demographics, the Self-Assigned New York Heart Association Classification (SA-NYHA), PP use, HIT SE, eHL, and self-management as measured by the Self-Care Heart Failure Index (SCHFI). Self-report data from a convenience sample from three facilities in the Northeastern United States was explored using descriptive statistical analysis, Chi Square tests of independence, and a Kruskal-Wallis/Jonckheere Terpstra analysis. Results: Among persons with an active diagnosis of HF who were registered for their PP (N=20), 90% were >60 years, and 95% were diagnosed within the previous decade; 75% classified themselves as Class I/II according to the SA-NYHA. Sufficient HIT SE (M= 23.3, SD=4.2) and eHL (M=31.1, SD=5.4) was reported. Sixty percent reported using the messaging feature while SD=22.0). Conclusion: This small sample reported sufficient HIT SE and eHL, yet only 35% were active PP users, and use of PP features was limited. Finally, there remains an opportunity to support self-management of HF.

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Kallmerten, P. (2021). Patient Portal Use, Health Information Technology Self-Efficacy, Electronic Health Literacy, and Self-Management among Patients with Heart Failure: A Cross Sectional Study (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/2015

Additional Citations

Kallmerten, P. S., Chia, L. R., Jakub, K., & Turk, M. T. (2021). Patient Portal Use by Adults With Heart Failure: An Integrative Review. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing.