Evaluating psychometric determinants of willingness to adopt sexual health patient portal services among black college students: A mixed-methods approach

Abstract

Objectives: To describe, using mixed-methods, perceptions of access to sexually transmitted infection test results via electronic personal health record (PHR) and correlates of willingness to adopt its use. Participants: Students at a mid-Atlantic historically black college. Methods: Focus-groups and interviews were conducted to explore themes on sexual health-related PHR-use (N = 35). Codes were operationalized into survey measures assessing beliefs in a cross-sectional sample (N = 354). Exploratory factor analysis identified latent factors among survey items. Multiple logistic regression models measured correlates of adoption willingness. Results: Three qualitative themes emerged on relative advantages, barriers, and functionality of PHRs. 57.6% of survey participants were willing to use PHRs for sexual health services. Reliable latent factors, centering on PHR convenience and functionality, were positively associated with adoption willingness. Conclusions: Data highlights interest among black college-age youth in adopting PHRs for comprehensive sexual health-related services. Adoption may be boosted with tailored designs responsive to expressed service needs.

Keywords:

• Health disparities
• Health IT
• HIV/STIs
• minority youth
• patient portal adoption

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from the Morgan State University.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The eSHINE Study was supported by a 2014–2016 dissertation research grant (R36HS023057) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Manuscript development was funded by a 2017–2019 T32 NRSA Postdoctoral Training Fellowship in HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Sciences (2T32AI102623-06). SB’s efforts were supported by the Johns Hopkins University Center for AIDS Research (P30AI094189). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH nor AHRQ.