Background: A demographic development is taking place in Denmark, which is financially challenging the health care system. A digitalization of the Danish healthcare system has begun to cater to this, where the contact to general practitioners has been digitized through the digital patient portal application ‘Min Læge’. Digital health literacy is seen as an essential prerequisite for using digital patient portals. However, there is a risk of increasing social inequity in health, as many social determinants are seen for low digital health literacy. Meanwhile, the literature shows that the introduction and support of healthcare professionals in general practice can overcome several barriers to the use of digital patient portals.
Aim: The aim is to investigate the potential for change in how introduction and support for patients' use of ‘Min Læge’ can be implemented in general practice, in order to increase the use of ‘Min Læge’ for patients with low health competencies.
Method: A cross-sectional study based on data from HLS19 identifies the relationship between social support and the use of digital patient portals among individuals with high and low digital health competencies. A systematic literature study has been made to identify promoting and inhibiting factors for the implementation of a change in general practice. Mechanisms and contextual conditions for health professionals to implement introduction and support in ‘Min Læge’ are identified through qualitative individual interviews.
Results: The cross-sectional study shows that there is no correlation between social support and the use of digital patient portals among people with high and low digital health competencies. Through the systematic literature study, the following are identified as factors influencing the implementation: earlier implementation of changes; resistance to change; burnout and commitment; communication and information; involvement of healthcare professionals in decisions; and practical conditions. From the interview survey with the health professionals in general practice, five main themes have been identified, including meaningful change; organizational resources for change; previous experience with changes in general practice; organizational culture and strategic considerations for successful implementation.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that there are several elements including individual factors, organizational relations and organizational resources that must be present for an introduction and support to be successfully implemented in general practice. However, more research is needed for the development and implementation of the initiative as well as its effect on the use of ‘Min Læge’ for people with low digital health competencies.