New Survey Uncovers Potential Gap in Consumer Awareness and Understanding of Healthcare Portal Security Practices

Core Insights - The report by LexisNexis Risk Solutions highlights the urgent need for improved identity verification solutions in healthcare portals to enhance user trust and security [1][5] Group 1: Data Security and User Confidence - Data security is a significant factor influencing the adoption of healthcare portals, with a notable difference in confidence levels between portal users and non-users [3][7] - 49% of non-portal users lack confidence in the security of their health data, compared to only 11% of portal users [7] - The findings indicate a disconnect between consumer perceptions of effective identity verification and the reality of compromised usernames and passwords, with estimates suggesting a million passwords are compromised weekly [5][7] Group 2: User Preferences and Barriers - Users prefer usernames and passwords as their primary method of identity verification, with 58% selecting this option, despite the known security risks [7] - 36% of respondents would prefer to interact with a human for identity verification, indicating a preference for personal engagement over digital methods [8] - Awareness is a significant barrier to portal adoption, with 41% of non-portal users aged 18 to 34 unaware of their portal's existence or how to access it [6][7] Group 3: Recommendations for Healthcare Organizations - Healthcare organizations are encouraged to implement stronger data security protocols that balance effective identity verification with a seamless user experience [2][5] - There is a need for greater education on data security practices among users to improve their understanding and confidence in using healthcare portals [2][5]