The role of patient portals in enhancing self-care in patients with renal conditions

Abstract

Web-based portals enable patients to access their electronic health records, including test results and clinical documents, from anywhere with Internet access. Some portals also serve as a means of two-way communication between patients and healthcare professionals and provide a platform for the recording of patient-entered data such as home blood pressure readings. Such systems are designed to encourage patient participation in the management of their condition, and ultimately to increase patient empowerment and self-management, which are associated with improved clinical outcomes. As an example of portal use in patients with renal conditions, we discuss the PatientView portal, which is offered free of cost to patients under the care of renal physicians in the UK. We present an account of its various features and briefly describe the user experience. Previous studies examining the impact of this portal on patient care have been very positive; it appears to be popular among users and overall levels of satisfaction with the service are high. As the use of patient portals increases, we discuss barriers to the more widespread use of portals. We offer suggestions on how the care of patients with renal conditions can be enhanced in the future by further developing the existing features, learning from experiences of other patient portals and providing better integration of portal use into the current model of care.

Oxidative Storm Induced by Tryptophan Metabolites: Missing Link between Atherosclerosis and Chronic Kidney Disease

“…In the context of cardiovascular disorder occurrence in the progress of CKD, it is worth noting that alternation in TRP metabolism varies among groups with varied risk of CVD development. Konje et al indicated a correlation between decreased basal levels of TRP and increased risk of CVD incident, which could suggest that changes in TRP metabolism are factors contributing to cardiovascular complications occurring in renal impairment [ 151 ].…”

Serum uromodulin is inversely associated with arterial hypertension and the vasoconstrictive prohormone CT-proET-1 in the population-based KORA F4 study

“…Continuous variables were transformed to a Gaussian distribution by the probability integral transformation followed by an inverse transform sampling and were used as in calculations per one standard deviation. In logistic and linear regression analyses, the association of sUmod with the respective dependent variables was adjusted for covariates in 5 models (model 1: sex, age (which are both related to hypertension and have been shown to be associated with sUmod [18]); model 2: model 1 plus eGFR (which was decreased in hypertensive participants and is strongly related to sUmod [12]); model 3: model 2 plus BMI (which is associated with sUmod [20]), fasting glucose (associated with sUmod [18]), current smoking, previous stroke and myocardial infarction; model 4: model 3 plus arterial hypertension; model 5: model 4 plus use of betablockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists, since these medications might influence the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system). Model 1 and 2 were applied for all analyses, model 3 for the assessment of arterial hypertension, model 4 for CT-proET-1 and model 5 for renin and aldosterone as dependent variables.…”

“…SUmod is considered to reflect intact tubular cells and thus indirectly nephron mass [11]. In line, sUmod emerged as a promising marker for kidney function [10,12,13]. The physiological role of uromodulin in the systemic circulation is still unknown.…”

Opportunities in the cloud or pie in the sky? Current status and future perspectives of telemedicine in nephrology

“…A good example from the UK is RenalPatientView™, a web-based system that grants patients access to their laboratory results ( Figure 5 ). The aims of this particular portal are to encourage patients to engage with their health issues and give them a sense of ownership, as discussed in this journal recently [ 89 ]. Typically, such portals will also provide patient information, for example, around laboratory results and normal ranges.…”

“…Typically, such portals will also provide patient information, for example, around laboratory results and normal ranges. More recently, such portals have been equipped with added interactivity, that is contact with a physician for advice [ 89 ].…”