title: Exploring three perspectives on feasibility of a patient portal for older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is not clear whether older adults with chronic disease and their caregivers are likely to use patient portals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Older adults with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure were evaluated as well as their caregivers. We explored whether these patients and/or their caregivers were able to use common portal elements. The perspective of informatics experts was ascertained using cognitive walkthrough methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients and nineteen caregivers were evaluated. Patients required more time on all tasks than caregivers. Patient comments included a request for written instructions for using the system and a guide for interpreting lab results. Caregiver suggestions included improving color contrast and presentation of the current medication list. In the cognitive walkthrough, numerous problems were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults with chronic illness and caregivers were interested in using a patient portal however multiple barriers were identified.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: McKenzie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bedra
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003197:Computer Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D000072638:Patient Portals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States