Patient portal accessing of sexually transmitted infection test results among adolescent and young adult patients.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine factors associated with patient portal accessing of sexually transmitted infection (STI) test results among adolescents and young adults (AYA) at a large urban hospital.

Methods: We analyzed 12-month retrospective electronic health record (EHR) patient portal data among 15,396 patients aged 15 to 25 who received STI testing. Multinomial logistic regression measured relationships of patient characteristics to accessing STI test results, (defined as the time from when STI test results were released to the portal, to when AYA patients logged into their portal to view test results). Accessing results was categorized as, (a) not accessed, (b) accessed after 4 days, and (c) accessed within 4 days.

Results: 63.5% (9,775) of patients accessed their STI test results within 4 days, while 26.1% (4,019) did not access results. Being <18 years-old, male, Black or Hispanic/Latino, and living in a low socioeconomic status neighborhood were associated with higher relative risk of not accessing results.

Discussion: Findings highlight AYA disparities in accessing STI results while suggesting a promising future for innovative STI interventions that leverage portals for engaging AYA in accessing STI test results.