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Patient Portal Adoption Barriers in a Safety-Net Clinic: A Mixed-Methods Study With National Comparison

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Patient portals are central to health care communication, yet disparities in adoption persist among underserved populations. Most implementation strategies draw on general population research, but adoption mechanisms may differ substantially in safety-net settings. METHODS: This mixed-methods cross-sectional study examined portal adoption barriers at a student-run free clinic serving predominantly uninsured, Spanish-speaking adults (n = 112 patients, N = 42 practitioners), with comparison to the Health Information National Trends Survey 6 (n = 5232). Exploratory cluster analysis identified patient engagement patterns. Semistructured interviews (n = 11) contextualized quantitative findings. Logistic regression models compared behavioral predictors across settings. RESULTS: Portal adoption was 22.3% locally vs 66.1% nationally. Cluster analysis identified 4 engagement patterns reflecting distinct barriers, including patients with high health confidence but low information access. Qualitative interviews revealed system usability and trust barriers rather than health literacy deficits. A logistic regression model using behavioral predictors performed well nationally (area under the curve = 0.78) but poorly locally (area under the curve = 0.37), suggesting different adoption mechanisms in safety-net settings. Only 44.3% of practitioners found the portal easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: Equitable digital health implementation requires community-specific barrier assessment rather than reliance on generalized national models. System-level usability and trust barriers, rather than individual behavioral deficits, may drive low portal adoption in underserved populations.

Source: The Permanente Journal

DOI: 10.7812/tpp/26.098

Authors: Solomon Kim, Leah Bourgan, Lawrence Chen, Gizele Bracamontes, Gary Chu

Institutions: California Northstate University, University of California, Davis, Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Electronic Health Records Systems

Subfield: Health Information Management

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W7170650854

FWCI:

Cites: 1

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