Patient-centered communication, disparities, and patient portals in the US, 2017-2022.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the relationship between patient-centered communication and portal offers and use among insured adult patients and to understand the role of patient-centered communication in equitable access to portals.

STUDY DESIGN: Using data from 4 cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey across 2017-2022, we determined how patient-centered communication and sociodemographic characteristics of adult insured patients in the US are associated with offers of and access to online patient portals.

METHODS: We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine associations of patient-centered communication and sociodemographic characteristics of adult insured patients in the US with offers of and access to online patient portals.

RESULTS: Across the period of 2017-2022, approximately two-thirds of insured adult patients on average reported being offered a patient portal, and approximately half reported accessing a portal. Patients with lower-than-average patient-centered communication and those who are men, are Hispanic, have less than a college degree, and have no internet are less likely than their counterparts to report being offered or accessing a portal.

CONCLUSIONS: Although patient-centered communication is an important factor in facilitating patient portal offers and access, it does not appear to be a driver of demographic divides in portal use.