Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39038793›Full record

ArticleApplied clinical informatics2024

A Medical Student-Led Multipronged Initiative to Close the Digital Divide in Outpatient Primary Care.

Yilan Jiangliu, Hannah T Kim, Michelle Lazar, Eileen Liu, Saaz Mantri, Edwin Qiu, Megan Berube, Himani Sood, Anika S Walia, Breanne E Biondi and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Applied clinical informatics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yilan JiangliuBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Hannah T KimBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Michelle LazarBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Eileen LiuBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Saaz MantriBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Edwin QiuBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Megan BerubeBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Himani SoodBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Anika S WaliaBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Breanne E BiondiDepartment of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Andres M MesiasDepartment of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Rebecca MishurisDepartment of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Pablo Buitron de la VegaBoston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Funding

Boston Medical Center Quality and Patient Safety Grant none
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic accelerated the use of telehealth. However, this also exacerbated health care disparities for vulnerable populations.

objectivesThis study aimed to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a medical student-led initiative to identify and address gaps in patient access to digital health resources in adult primary care clinics at an academic safety-net hospital.

methodsMedical students used an online HIPAA-compliant resource directory to screen for digital needs, connect patients with resources, and track outcome metrics. Through a series of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, the program grew to offer services such as information and registration for subsidized internet and phone services via the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Lifeline, assistance setting up and utilizing MyChart (an online patient portal for access to electronic health records), orientation to telehealth applications, and connection to community-based digital literacy training.

resultsBetween November 2021 and March 2023, the program received 608 assistance requests. The most successful intervention was MyChart help, resulting in 83% of those seeking assistance successfully signing up for MyChart accounts and 79% feeling comfortable navigating the portal. However, subsidized internet support, digital literacy training, and telehealth orientation had less favorable outcomes. The PDSA cycles highlighted numerous challenges such as inadequate patient outreach, time-consuming training, limited in-person support, and unequal language assistance. To overcome these barriers, the program evolved to utilize clinic space for outreach, increase flier distribution, standardize training, and enhance integration of multilingual resources.

conclusionThis study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first time a medical student-led initiative addresses the digital divide with a multipronged approach. We outline a system that can be implemented in other outpatient settings to increase patients' digital literacy and promote health equity, while also engaging students in important aspects of nonclinical patient care.

Indexed as

Digital DividePrimary Health CareStudents, MedicalTelemedicineAmbulatory CareCOVID-19Electronic Health RecordsHumansOutpatients

Identifiers

PMID39038793
PMCPMC11464158

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.