Socioeconomic disparities in adoption of personal health records over time

Since 2009, federal policies have incentivized medical organizations to provide medical record access to patients. We sought to track personal health record (PHR) adoption and differences by sociodemographic group over time. Random-digit-dial survey conducted for 4 consecutive years in New York state. The Empire State Poll is a random digit-dial survey conducted every year in New York state, with an annual sample size of 800 individuals, weighted to create a representative state sample. We analyzed 4 consecutive years of poll data to examine trends. The proportion of New Yorkers using PHRs rose sharply, from 11% in 2012 to 27% in 2015. By 2015, there were no significant differences in PHR use between blacks and other races, but Hispanics and low-income respondents were less likely to use PHRs. During a 4-year period in which federal policies incentivized medical organizations to give medical record access to patients through PHRs and electronic portals, rates of PHR use increased rapidly in all sociodemographic groups. However, a digital divide remains evident, linked to Hispanic ethnicity and lower income.