Department of Radiology
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Balthazar 2022

 

Year: 2022

Title: Effect of Sociodemographic Factors on Utilization of an Online Patient Portal to Self-Schedule Screening Mammography: A Cross-Sectional Study

Country: United States

Age: Adult Only

Sex: Female

Population: Multiple Groups

Care Setting: Outpatient Ambulatory and Primary Care

Clinical Setting: Breast Cancer Screening

Data Level: Single Institution

Data Type: EHR

Data Source: Local data

Conclusion: Disparities In All Minority Groups

Health OutComes Reported: No

Mitigation: No

Free Text Conclusion: Racial/Ethnic minorities were less likely to use an online self-scheduling pathway for screening mammography.

Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess for sociodemographic factors associated with the use of an online patient portal to self-schedule screening mammography (SM) compared with the traditional scheduling pathway (phone call and referral system). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at an urban quaternary care academic medical center with patient portal access to the electronic health record. All female patients undergoing SM at the institution from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, were included. The institutional data warehouse was queried to extract the following variables: patient scheduling pathway (online self-scheduled vs traditional), age, language, race/ethnicity, health insurance provider, and ZIP code. ZIP code was linked to census data to extract the following: computer with Internet access, median household income, and education level. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with using the online self-scheduling pathway for SM. RESULTS: A total of 46,083 patients met the inclusion criteria. Three hundred two (0.7%) used the online self-scheduling pathway. Patients using the online self-scheduling pathway had higher odds of being younger (odds ratio [OR] for age in years, 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-0.96), being English speakers (OR, 21.3; 95% CI, 2.9-153.9), being White non-Hispanic (OR, 1.7; 95%CI, 1.2-2.5), and having commercial insurance (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1). Patients using the online self-scheduling pathway had higher odds of living in ZIP-code areas with higher access to computers with Internet connection (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07) and lower rates of education at or above the college level (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-1.00). Patient median household income by ZIP code was not significantly associated with use of the online self-scheduling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with limited English proficiency, those of racial/ethnic minorities, those who were older, and those without commercial insurance were less likely to use an online self-scheduling pathway for SM.