# University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute

> **NIH NIH UL1** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $177,840

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Patient portals are secure, online health management tools that connect patients to portions of their electronic
health record and serve as the entry point for digital care in 90% of health systems. For children (0-12 years
old), the patient portal is accessed by a parent or caregiver acting on the child's behalf. Geographic, financial,
communication, and structural barriers that limit access to in-person care can create barriers to digital care.
Inequities in portal enrollment and use may disproportionately affect children who also face limited access to
in-person care, exacerbating disparities. As the patient portal is designed as the entry point for digital
engagement with healthcare, it is essential to understand the factors leading to inequitable enrollment in order
to promote equitable access to digital healthcare for all children. The overall goal of this study is to identify
strategies to align pediatric patient portals with the expectations and needs of parents to enhance use and to
ultimately improve health communication and equitable child health outcomes. In Aim 1, we will examine
child, family and system-level factors associated with proxy enrollment in and use of a pediatric patient portal
among children receiving care across >125 primary care practices. In Aim 2, we will conduct semi-structured
interviews with caregivers who are not enrolled in a pediatric patient portal to explore expectations, and
challenges regarding patient portals. With committed mentors and strong institutional support, the PI will
receive mentorship, didactic education and research experience for her career development in equity-
centered research methods, qualitative methods, and leadership skills, thus preparing her for a K23 application
to launch a career as an independent health services researcher focused on improving child health outcomes
through equitable and appropriate application of technology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10517554
- **Project number:** 3UL1TR001857-07S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** STEVEN E REIS
- **Activity code:** UL1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $177,840
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-07-12 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10517554

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10517554, University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (3UL1TR001857-07S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10517554. Licensed CC0.

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