title: The effect of tablet computers with a mobile patient portal application on hospitalized patients' knowledge and activation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of tablet computers with a mobile patient portal application on hospitalized patients' knowledge and activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a mobile patient portal application including pictures, names, and role descriptions of team members, scheduled tests and procedures, and a list of active medications. We evaluated the effect of the application using a controlled trial involving 2 similar units in a large teaching hospital. Patients on the intervention unit were offered use of tablet computers with the portal application during their hospitalization. We assessed patients' ability to correctly name their nurse, primary service physicians, physician roles, planned tests and procedures, medications started, and medications stopped since admission. We also administered the Short Form of the Patient Activation Measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 100 intervention- and 102 control-unit patients participated. A higher percentage of intervention-unit patients correctly named ≥1 physician (56% vs 29.4%; P < .001) and ≥1 physician role (47% vs 15.7%; P < .001). Knowledge of nurses' names, planned tests, planned procedures, and medication changes was generally low and not significantly different between the study units. The Short Form of the Patient Activation Measure mean (SD) score was also not significantly different at 64.1 (13.4) vs 62.7 (12.8); P = .46.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional research is needed to identify optimal methods to engage and inform patients during their hospitalization, which will improve preparation for self- management after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hospital Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ilinois, USA keoleary@nm.org.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ilinois, USA.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lohman
authors.affiliation: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Eckford
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Culver
authors.affiliation: Division of Hospital Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ilinois, USA.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Killarney
authors.affiliation: Division of Hospital Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ilinois, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Randy Smith
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Liebovitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012648:Self Care
keywords: hospitalized patient; patient engagement; patient portal; patient-centered care; personal health record