Promoting patient-centered preventive care using a wellness portal: A pilot study

Background: Optimal delivery of preventive services requires appropriate information processing and patient involvement. However, information is limited in preventive service delivery that integrates health information technologies (HIT).

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and pilot test an Internet-based patient Wellness Portal to facilitate patient-centered care.

Methods: To guide Portal development, an advisory panel was assembled to systematically identify Portal elements/features. Delphi Technique was employed to achieve consensus on Portal structure. To pilot test the Portal, 67 patients were randomly recruited from two practices to complete a questionnaire. A mixed method approach was used for evaluation where frequency statistics were compiled for structured questions and content analyses were conducted to examine qualitative responses on Portal utility.

Findings: Participants' age ranged from 23 to 83, with a mean of 41. About 78% were female and 80% have at least some college education. The sample included 77.8% White, 18.5% African Americans, and 3.7% Native Americans. Based on consensus, the Portal provides a personalized wellness plan to enhance patients' ability to obtain preventive services based on demographics, risk factors, symptoms tracking, medications, tests, access to education/information, patient-provider communication, etc. Patients rated the Portal in: (1) ease of use; (2) importance; and (3) utility/value. Over 90% found the Portal easy to use in terms of navigation (93.3%), finding information (90%), understanding information (93.3%) and instructions (93.3%). Patients regarded the Portal to be in important tools in managing their wellness (80%), improving t patient-provider interactions (60%), and a valuable resource (83.3%). Contents analyses showed that patients found the Portal helpful as a tool, particularly its reminder and tracking functions.

Conclusions: Patients with basic computer literacy may use a simple, consumer-oriented website to coordinate their preventive care. The Portal is an example of how HIT may encourage active patient participation in their care and potentially improve outcomes.