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Abstract

The widespread adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR) in the United States offers a transformative opportunity to enhance patient-provider interactions, yet the impact on the quality of care for older adults remains unclear. This study delves into how EHR use influences quality of care and whether Patient-Centered Communication (PCC) mediates this relationship, considering age and gender differences among adults 65 and older. Using data from the 2018–2020 HINTS survey, path analysis showed a significant indirect effect through PCC in the full sample (a*b = 0.12, p < .05). In addition, there were significant effects of PCC on quality of care in the full sample and all age and gender strata (p < .05). Remarkably, PCC mediates this relationship more strongly among individuals over 70 (a*b = 0.14, p < .05). These results highlight the demographic differences in how EHRs and PCC contribute to healthcare experiences in older adults, underscoring the need for tailored EHR design and communication strategies.

Keywords

electronic health records older adults patient-centered communication quality of care health information technology patient portal online medical record

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How Patient Use of Electronic Health Records Affects Perceived Quality of Care in Older Adults: Exploring Gender and Age Disparities

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