Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patient portal technology is increasingly utilized in the health care system for diabetes management as a means of communication and information-sharing tools, and it has the potential to improve access, quality, and outcomes for patients with diabetes. However, its adaptation is very low, and patients' intention toward the patient portal is unknown. This study aims to fill this gap by determining the intention to use the patient portal and its predictors among patients with diabetes in Ethiopia. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with diabetes from April 3 to May 8 in eight referral hospitals in the Amhara region, Ethiopia 2023. Samples were proportionally allocated for each hospital, and participants were selected by using a systematic random sampling method. The data were collected by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire using the Kobo collection mobile app. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS version 26. The degree of association between exogenous and endogenous variables was assessed and validated using structural equation modeling using AMOS version 21. RESULT: A total of 1037 (96.2% response rate) patients with diabetes participated in the study. Of them, 407 (39.25%), 95% CI: [36.4-42.2] were found to have an intention to use the patient portal. Digital literacy (β = 0.312, 95% CI: [0.154-0.465], p < .01), performance expectancy (β = 0.303, 95% CI: [0.185-0.420], p < .01), effort expectancy (β = 0.25, 95% CI: [0.131-0.392], p < 0.01) facilitating condition (β = 0.22, 95% CI: [0.081-0.36], p < .01) and habit (β = 0.111, 95% CI: [-0.009 to 0.227], p < .05) were significantly associated with the intention to use patient portals. Effort expectancy and facilitating conditions were positively moderated by gender. CONCLUSION: This study found that patient with diabetes' intention to use patient portals was low. To increase patients with diabetes' intention to use the patient portal, interventions in digital literacy, performance expectations, effort expectations, facilitating conditions, and habits are required.