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Primary care research networks not taking advantage of technology-based strategies

The use of technology-based strategies for engaging patients was limited within practice-based research networks, despite evidence that they improve knowledge and decrease decisional conflict, according to data published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

“Technology-based patient engagement strategies include activities such as the transmission of clinical questions, biometric data, patient surveys (e.g., decision aids and patient-reported outcomes), and risk calculators,” Beth Careyva, MD, of the department of family medicine at the Lehigh Valley Health Network, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and colleagues wrote. “Real-world examples include the use of videoconferencing to facilitate patient visits in rural areas, the use of portals to collect patient-reported outcomes and Internet-connected scales to communicate daily body weight. With the combination of an aging population and a primary care workforce shortage, there is a greater-than-ever need to explore innovative technology strategies that empower patients to be active participants in their health and health care.”

To determine the current use of, and barriers to, patient engagement technologies within practice-based research, Careyva and colleagues drew data from the Count of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) 2015 survey. From September to October 2015, the survey asked 102 practice-based research network (PBRN) directors to answer 10 questions relating to demographics, current use of technology-based patient engagement strategies and participant recruitment.

Of the 102 survey directors, 96 were eligible for the study and, of those, 54 completed the poll.

According to the researchers, 37% of the directors who completed the survey reported using web-based risk assessments or decision aids. The percentages of those using waiting room kiosk computers or tablets, and those using smartphones or personal tablets, for risk assessment or decision aids were both 24.1%. Meanwhile, 24.1% used e-mail, 18.5% electronically transmitted vital signs or clinical data, 16.7% texted reminders to patients, 13% used patient portals for risk assessment, 7.4% met remotely with patients and 7.4% texted vital signs or clinical data to patients. Information technology (IT) support was the leading barrier to using the strategies, followed by low portal enrollment.

“Even in practices with access to portals and other technologies, few PBRNs are engaging in studies of technology implementation or related outcomes,” Careyva and colleagues wrote. “… Optimizing IT support and addressing workload concerns may facilitate increased use of technology-based patient engagement strategies within practice-based research.” – by Jason Laday

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.