Patient and Family Member Readiness, Needs, and Perceptions of a Mental Health Patient Portal: A Mixed Methods Study

Patient portals are a form of technology that supports patients in accessing their health information, and other functions like scheduling appointments. The presence and utilization of patient portals in mental health contexts is relatively new. Despite research existing in the mental health literature that indicates that there may be benefits when patients have access to their mental health notes, there is limited information as to how best to implement portals, and support adoption among patients and their family members. Given this gap in literature, this study aimed to identify patient and family readiness, needs, and perceptions of a mental health patient portal. Surveys were administered to patients (n = 103) and family members (n = 7) either in-person or over the phone by a Peer Support Worker. The sample of participants consisted of patients and family members affiliated with Canada's largest mental health hospital located in Toronto, Ontario. Study results indicated that patients had the highest interest in the following portal functions: scheduling appointments, checking appointment times, and accessing their health record. Both patients and family members expressed their concerns about cybersecurity and potential privacy breaches. The results of this study, as well as the approach, can inform future patient portal planning and implementation activities at other healthcare organizations.