Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Healthcare delivery and research are moving increasingly towards digital engagement, which could inequitably exclude some populations due to differential technology access and uptake. We sought to evaluate study-related digital access, preferences, and use among parents of patients with Medicaid insurance enrolled in research in a pediatric emergency department (ED). METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis within a randomized trial at an academic pediatric ED. Children with public insurance and a language of English or Spanish who were treated for asthma symptoms were enrolled; parents completed surveys regarding digital access, preferences and demographics. Associations were tested using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: We enrolled 80 families, of whom 18% had a language for care of Spanish; 31% of children identified as Hispanic, and 25% as Black. All baseline survey respondents (n = 79) endorsed having an internet-connected computer (73%) or smartphone (99%); 85% of smartphone holders reported unlimited data. When given the choice, 73% of participants requested a physical gift card instead of an electronic gift card. Only 31% had patient portal access 6 months after study end. Parents who spoke Spanish or with a child identified as Hispanic or Black more often requested physical gift cards and less often had patient portal access, but these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Despite ubiquitous access to internet-connected digital devices among this Medicaid-insured population, patient portal use was low and many families preferred non-digital reimbursement. Efforts to enhance research inclusion should consider digital preferences in addition to digital access when planning study procedures.