Evidence that patient portals improve health outcomes, cost, or utilization is insufficient. Patient attitudes are generally positive, but more widespread use may require efforts to overcome racial, ethnic, and literacy barriers. Portals represent a new technology with benefits that are still unclear. Better understanding requires studies that include details about context, implementation factors, and cost.

We identified barriers that might explain some of the variability in the use of CRs. Although these barriers may be difficult to overcome, some strategies may increase user acceptance and therefore the effectiveness of the CRs. These include explicitly assigning responsibility for each CR to nurses or providers, improving visibility of positive results from CRs in the electronic medical record, creating a feedback mechanism about CR use, and limiting the overall number of CRs.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42014007469).

Key Points Question Does androgen suppression improve clinical outcomes in hospitalized men with COVID-19? Findings In this randomized clinical trial including 96 men, androgen suppression with the addition of degarelix vs placebo plus standard care did not show reduction of the composite end point of mortality, ongoing hospitalization, or requirement for mechanical ventilation at day 15 after randomization. Meaning This randomized clinical trial found that androgen suppression did not improve outcomes in men hospitalized for COVID-19.