Black, older patients less likely to use hospital patient portals

Black patients are less likely to use patient portals than white patients, even when the technology is presented at the bedside, a new study suggests.

The findings are part of a growing discussion about disparities in patients' access to their own medical data, with previous studies identifying trends with minorities, elderly patients, rural residents and men being less likely to use patient portals to access their health information.

While previous research has tended to center on patient portal use after a hospital visit, the latest study published in the journal Telemedicine and e-Health focuses on inpatient portals.