ArticleBMC family practice2019
Patient portal messaging for care coordination: a qualitative study of perspectives of experienced users with chronic conditions.
Article in BMC family practice, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Electronic Medical Record-Based Electronic Messaging Among Patients with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.Applied clinical informatics · 2023Pooled it
- Patient Portal Functionalities and Patient Outcomes Among Patients With Diabetes: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- Using Electronic Health Record Portals to Improve Patient Engagement: Research Priorities and Best Practices.Annals of internal medicine · 2020Pooled it
- Effect of In-Person vs Video Training and Access to All Functions vs a Limited Subset of Functions on Portal Use Among Inpatients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2022Trial
- Trial
- Impact of Patient-Clinical Team Secure Messaging on Communication Patterns and Patient Experience: Randomized Encouragement Design Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Trial
- The Role of Measurement in Identifying High-Intensity Secure Message Senders Among Older Adults: Observational Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Observational
- Digital Engagement in Healthcare: The Influence of Internet Use and Social Media on Messaging Providers, Viewing Test Results, and Scheduling Appointments.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Capturing Financial Burden Concerns in an ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic.Muscle & nerve · 2026Article
- Communication Barriers in Patient-Provider Interactions in Health Care: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Defining and Assessing Empathic Communication in Patient Portal Secure Messages: Adapted Coding Framework Development Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Clinician-Patient Asynchronous Text Messaging Communication in Hospital-at-Home Care: Qualitative Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- A scoping review of studies on secure messaging through patient portals: persistent challenges and potential solutions.npj health systems · 2026Article
- Patient Valuation of Visit Types, Speed of Care, and Continuity With Primary Care Physicians: A Discrete-Choice Survey.Annals of family medicine · 2026Article
- Asynchronous Telehealth for Dysphagia Management: Evidence, Possibilities, and Practical Examples.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groups · 2025Article
- Taming the In-Basket-How Two Simple Tools Reduced Portal Message Volume in an Academic Internal Medicine Clinic.Journal of general internal medicine · 2025Article
- Patient-Physician Messaging by Race, Ethnicity, Insurance Type, and Preferred Language.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Physicians' Experiences Using Secure Messaging for Diabetes Management: A Qualitative Study.JMIR diabetes · 2025Article
- Measurement, drivers, and outcomes of patient-initiated secure messaging use and intensity: a scoping review.JAMIA open · 2025Review
- Patient-Health Care Professional Communication via a Secure Web-Based Portal in Severe Mental Health Conditions: Qualitative Analysis of Secure Messages.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPatient portal secure messaging (asynchronous electronic communication between physicians and their established patients) allows patients to manage their care through asynchronous, direct communication with their providers. This type of engagement with health information technology could have important benefits for patients with chronic conditions, and a more thorough understanding of the use and barriers of secure messaging among this population is needed. The objective of this study was to explore how experienced portal users engage with secure messaging to manage their chronic conditions.
methodsThree focus groups were conducted with 17 total patients who self-reported a cardiopulmonary condition. Participants were asked questions about their experience with patient portal secure messaging. Focus group transcripts were coded through inductive and deductive methods to reveal common themes.
resultsPatients' motivation for using messaging included the speed and ease of such communication and direct access to a physician. Messaging was used by patients as an extension of the office visit and supported coordination of care among providers as well as patient collaboration with family members or caretakers. Patients identified challenges to using messaging, including technological barriers, worry about uncompensated physician time spent responding to messages, and confusion about what constitutes an appropriate 'non-urgent' message.
conclusionsThis study highlights the potential of patient portal messaging as a tool for care coordination to enhance chronic disease self-management. However, uncertainty about the appropriate use of portal messaging persists even among experienced users. Additional patient training in the proper use of secure messaging and its benefits for disease self-management may help to resolve these concerns.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.