Nearly half of people are using technology to communicate with their primary care provider, according to new research. But many aren’t on the same page when it comes to discussing health tech itself.
That’s the takeaway from a statewide survey of Indiana University Health patients undertaken by the Regenstrief Institute and the Bloomington-based university, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Despite the number of patients using technology, only 21% are talking with their providers about how to correspond digitally, a primary recommendation for using such modes of communication, said Joy L. Lee, PhD, first author of the paper and a Regenstrief research scientist.
“The results of our statewide survey indicate patients are using health information technology," Lee added in a June 30 statement. “However, they aren't talking to their provider about it. One of the few widely agreed upon recommendations for electronic communication in healthcare is for providers to be talking to their patients about it ahead of time,” Lee said, noting that this may be hindering the use of health information technology.
The team surveyed 970 adults across the Hoosier state, gauging how they used tech to converse with their doctor. In total, 47% claimed they used health information technology in the past year. Most (31%) utilized an electronic health record messaging system, while 24% exchanged email, and 18% used text messaging.
Interim Director of the Regenstrief Institute Center for Health Services Research David Haggstrom, MD, noted that their totals align with those from across the United States and offer a “representative snapshot” of overall health behaviors.
Despite the apparent shift toward secure messaging, Haggstrom believes more work needs to be done, especially as the current pandemic continues to impact in-person care.
“Individuals may be more likely to use messaging if they know what subjects are appropriate and how their provider might respond,” he added. “We need to look at providing more support for both patients and providers to facilitate these conversations."
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.