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Publication Profiles

Electronic Patient Portal Access, Retention in Care, and Viral Suppression Among People Living With HIV in Southeastern United States: Observational Study

Citation

Schember CO, Scott SE, Jenkins CA, et al. Electronic Patient Portal Access, Retention in Care, and Viral Suppression Among People Living With HIV in Southeastern United States: Observational Study. JMIR Med Inform. 2022;10(7):e34712. doi:10.2196/34712

Implementation stage:

Sustainment

Implementation outcomes reported:

Feasibility

Continuum target addressed:

Engagement in treatment (including retention and re-engagement), Viral suppression

Geography:

Non-priority jurisdiction

Study Participant Classification:

Recipients of care

Plain Language Objectives

The researchers wanted to learn whether people with HIV who registered for an electronic patient portal were more likely to stay in care and reduce HIV in their blood to a very low level.

Plain Language Abstract

Electronic patient portals may help people manage appointments and communicate with clinics, but their relationship with HIV outcomes is uncertain. Researchers followed 4,237 people receiving HIV care at a Nashville clinic from 2011 through 2016, representing 16,951 person-years of observation. Portal access meant registering for an account before the year being assessed. Retention meant having at least two appointments or HIV laboratory measurements three months apart, and viral suppression meant a final yearly viral load below 200 copies per milliliter. Overall, 56.5% had portal access. After adjustment for measured characteristics, portal access was associated with a 13% higher prevalence of retention and an 18% higher prevalence of viral suppression. These results suggest that portal access may identify or support patients who remain engaged in care. However, registration was not randomly assigned. People who use portals may differ from nonusers in internet access, health engagement, or other factors that also affect outcomes. The observational study therefore cannot show that providing portal access alone would cause better retention or viral suppression; prospective research is needed.

Key Takeaways

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Publications

Barriers/Facilitators

Science Frameworks

Implementation Science Frameworks

Outcomes

Community Partnerships

Welcome to the Dashboard

This dashboard provides an accessible way to explore national and jurisdictional findings from implementation science research supporting the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. The homepage gives you quick access to major sections of the site and highlights key insights drawn from ongoing research and community partnerships.

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At the top of the page, you’ll find four main sections that guide your experience:

  • About explains the purpose of the dashboard, the research framework guiding this project, and how to interpret the data and publications included here.
  • Results presents visual summaries, charts, and findings from implementation science activities conducted across EHE jurisdictions.
  • Publications provides access to peer-reviewed articles, research outputs, and additional documentation relevant to EHE implementation science.
  • Community highlights survey findings, community partnerships, and engagement activities that support and shape local EHE strategies.

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Use the search bar at the top of the page to look up specific topics, terms, research areas, or publications. This search function scans the entire dashboard, making it easier to find exactly what you need.

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