# Uptake and user characteristics of MyChart within a Canadian community hospital with a diverse patient population: A comparative study

## TL;DR

This study examines who uses a patient portal called MyChart at a Canadian hospital and how often, finding that users tend to be younger and more frequent healthcare visitors.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence of patient portal adoption in a diverse population and highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve engagement.

## Key findings

- MyChart users were younger (53.5 vs. 56.9 years) and visited the hospital more frequently than non-users.
- Users accessed the portal an average of five times a month and had five annual visits before account creation.
- Targeted interventions for diverse groups, such as older adults, could improve portal adoption and usage.

## Abstract

Patient portals offer a convenient way to access health information and increase patient participation in healthcare. To promote broad accessibility and impact of portals, it is essential to understand uptake patterns across patient populations. This study described the characteristics of patient users of a portal called MyChart and compared them to non-users at a large community hospital. We descriptively analyzed (frequency, counts) patient health records to characterize MyChart users and their usage patterns during the first year of its launch from September 11, 2023, to September 112024. We summarized user demographics along with information about how they activated accounts, accessed MyChart, and utilized its features. Using chi-square and t-tests, we compared MyChart user demographics to non-users who visited the hospital in the same time period. A total of 61,306 patients activated MyChart during the first year it was available. On average, MyChart users were 53 years old, 62% female, 64% predicted to have White ethnicity, and preferred to receive healthcare in English (88%). MyChart users tended to be regular healthcare users, with an average of five annual visits prior to creating an account and logged onto the portal on average five times a month. MyChart users were slightly younger than non-users (an average age of 53.5 vs. 56.9 years) and visited the hospital more often (an average of 5.7 vs. 3.1 annual visits). Many patients activated MyChart during the first year of launch, and users closely resembled the broader patient population. To enhance adoption and potential benefits of patient portals, targeted interventions such as accessible educational information tailored to diverse patient groups (e.g., older adults, different ethnicities) could increase their usage.

Patient portals offer a convenient way to access health information and increase patient participation in healthcare. However, their effectiveness can vary depending on factors such as implementation, misaligned expectations, limited digital and health literacy and privacy and security concerns. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing evidence of patient portal adoption and usage directly following its implementation in a large community hospital that serves a highly diverse patient population. It identifies specific user groups, such as older adults, who may require additional support to effectively utilize the portal, emphasizing the importance of caregiver involvement and a staged implementation approach. This study can guide future research by informing the development of targeted interventions that focus on specific user groups (e.g., older adults) or challenges (e.g., digital literacy) to improve patient portal engagement. Additionally, our findings inform healthcare practice and policy by highlighting the need for equitable access and usage of patient portals for all individuals, ultimately improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery.