Two different headlines are painting two different pictures of patient portals and their use. One headline tells us the technology, part of electronic health records, leads to positive patient engagement. Another headline tells us patient portal use differs among patients of varying socioeconomic statuses.

Which headline is right? Perhaps both.

Let's start with the first. According to the Colorado Permanente Medical Group, when training physicians on using the technology, the newly hired caregivers are encouraged to use the technology and to tell their patients that doing so also is a good thing.

In so doing, the medical group reports, patients view the technology as a good thing to use and worthy of taking a look, worthwhile of exploring, rather than seen as just "another task on the to-do list." The technology features a portal that allows patients to view test results, access more information about prescriptions and schedule appointments.

"If you just throw a computer in the exam room and tell [the] doctor to do more, it won't be effective," William Wright, the group's former executive medical director, said in an interview with the American Academy of Family Physicians.

When the caregivers encourage patients to use the technology, they are able to answer questions and go over how certain components of the technology works, like a cardio risk calculator or an exercise routine. "Physicians can incorporate technology not as an intruder but as a facilitator," Wright said.

This engagement has led to a boost in the popularity of the portals. In fact, according to FierceHealthcare, "Older females are some of the quickest to adopt the tool."

"We've seen an increase in patient satisfaction after we opened up the records," Wright said. "There is some anxiety about that among physicians, but I think it will happen because it's the nature of the world we live in."

However, in a separate study, research indicates that patient portal use differs among patients of varying socioeconomic statuses. The study, led by researcher William Manard, M.D., sought to determine whether patient portal use can help patients lower their blood pressure.

The findings were surprising, though: Socioeconomic status influenced patient portal adoption and overall patient health. Between 2008 and 2010, the team enrolled 1,571 patients with hypertension in a patient portal program. Over the next five years, the team collected follow-up data to test whether participants had reached their target blood pressure control, and also examined the effect of patient portal use on that achievement.

"After adjusting their results for sociodemographic factors, the researchers saw trends in how socioeconomic status affected patient portal use and health," according to Patient Engagement HIT.

According to the study, patients were spilt into four economic tiers, and researchers found that 18 percent of patients on the lowest socioeconomic rung, and 19 percent of those on the second-lowest rung, used the patient portal. They also had lower rates of blood pressure control rates.

36 percent and 27 percent of patients in the highest two socioeconomic levels had adopted the portal, and they also saw higher rates of blood pressure control rates.

Another study showed that patients "foremost use portals to review their data. Rarely do patients use patient portals to start a conversation with their providers."

These findings about socioeconomic status and practice culture show that targeted education about the portal can help lead people to use them, which seems the fit the findings of the previously mentioned study.

Some researchers believe patient portals are not being discussed often enough, and patient education on the matter is lacking.