1
|
Kim J, Cai ZR, Chen ML, Onyeka S, Ko JM, Linos E. Telehealth Utilization and Associations in the United States During the Third Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Population-Based Survey Study in 2022. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e51279. [PMID: 38669075 PMCID: PMC11087857 DOI: 10.2196/51279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly changed the landscape of clinical practice in the United States; telehealth became an essential mode of health care delivery, yet many components of telehealth use remain unknown years after the disease's emergence. OBJECTIVE We aim to comprehensively assess telehealth use and its associated factors in the United States. METHODS This cross-sectional study used a nationally representative survey (Health Information National Trends Survey) administered to US adults (≥18 years) from March 2022 through November 2022. To assess telehealth adoption, perceptions of telehealth, satisfaction with telehealth, and the telehealth care purpose, we conducted weighted descriptive analyses. To identify the subpopulations with low adoption of telehealth, we developed a weighted multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS Among a total of 6252 survey participants, 39.3% (2517/6252) reported telehealth use in the past 12 months (video: 1110/6252, 17.8%; audio: 876/6252, 11.6%). The most prominent reason for not using telehealth was due to telehealth providers failing to offer this option (2200/3529, 63%). The most common reason for respondents not using offered telehealth services was a preference for in-person care (527/578, 84.4%). Primary motivations to use telehealth were providers' recommendations (1716/2517, 72.7%) and convenience (1516/2517, 65.6%), mainly for acute minor illness (600/2397, 29.7%) and chronic condition management (583/2397, 21.4%), yet care purposes differed by age, race/ethnicity, and income. The satisfaction rate was predominately high, with no technical problems (1829/2517, 80.5%), comparable care quality to that of in-person care (1779/2517, 75%), and no privacy concerns (1958/2517, 83.7%). Younger individuals (odd ratios [ORs] 1.48-2.23; 18-64 years vs ≥75 years), women (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.09-1.61), Hispanic individuals (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.05-1.80; vs non-Hispanic White), those with more education (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.03-2.87; at least a college graduate vs less than high school), unemployed individuals (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.02-1.54), insured individuals (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.25-2.69), or those with poor general health status (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.30-2.13) had higher odds of using telehealth. CONCLUSIONS To our best knowledge, this is among the first studies to examine patient factors around telehealth use, including motivations to use, perceptions of, satisfaction with, and care purpose of telehealth, as well as sociodemographic factors associated with telehealth adoption using a nationally representative survey. The wide array of descriptive findings and identified associations will help providers and health systems understand the factors that drive patients toward or away from telehealth visits as the technology becomes more routinely available across the United States, providing future directions for telehealth use and telehealth research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeong Kim
- Stanford Center for Digital Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Zhuo Ran Cai
- Stanford Center for Digital Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Michael L Chen
- Stanford Center for Digital Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Sonia Onyeka
- Stanford Center for Digital Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Justin M Ko
- Stanford Center for Digital Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Eleni Linos
- Stanford Center for Digital Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Peng W, Huang Q, Mao B. Evaluating variations in the barriers to colorectal cancer screening associated with telehealth use in rural U.S. Pacific Northwest. Cancer Causes Control 2024; 35:635-645. [PMID: 38001334 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-023-01819-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain consistently high in rural populations. Telehealth can improve screening uptake by overcoming individual and environmental disadvantages in rural communities. The present study aimed to characterize varying barriers to CRC screening between rural individuals with and without experience in using telehealth. METHOD The cross-sectional study surveyed 250 adults aged 45-75 residing in rural U.S. states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington from June to September 2022. The associations between CRC screening and four sets of individual and environmental factors specific to rural populations (i.e., demographic characteristics, accessibility, patient-provider factors, and psychological factors) were assessed among respondents with and without past telehealth adoption. RESULT Respondents with past telehealth use were more likely to screen if they were married, had a better health status, had experienced discrimination in health care, and had perceived susceptibility, screening efficacy, and cancer fear, but less likely to screen when they worried about privacy or had feelings of embarrassment, pain, and discomfort. Among respondents without past telehealth use, the odds of CRC screening decreased with busy schedules, travel burden, discrimination in health care, and lower perceived needs. CONCLUSION Rural individuals with and without previous telehealth experience face different barriers to CRC screening. The finding suggests the potential efficacy of telehealth in mitigating critical barriers to CRC screening associated with social, health care, and built environments of rural communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Peng
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Murrow Hall 211, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Communication, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Bingjing Mao
- TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ehrhardt N, Cedeno B, Montour L, Sinclair K, Ferguson G, Berberian P, Comstock B, Wright L. Effectiveness of a culturally tailored diabetes education curriculum with real-time continuous glucose monitoring in a Latinx population with type 2 diabetes: the CUT-DM with CGM for Latinx randomised controlled trial study protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e082005. [PMID: 38154895 PMCID: PMC10759074 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing in the Latinx community. Despite telehealth and technology becoming more available, these resources are not reaching the Latinx population. Diabetes education is a cornerstone of treatment; however, access to culturally tailored content is a barrier to the Latinx population. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) is a patient-empowering tool that can improve glycaemic control, but it is not readily available for Latinx patients with T2D. We aim to evaluate a culturally tailored diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) curriculum, using a team-based approach to improve glycaemic control, promote healthy behaviours and enhance patient access with the use of telehealth in Latinx individuals. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the additive effectiveness of RT-CGM on glycaemia and behavioural changes among Latinx patients undergoing a culturally tailored DSMES. A sub aim of the study is to evaluate family members' change in behaviours. METHODS We propose a randomised controlled trial of blinded versus RT-CGM with 100 Latinx participants with T2D who will receive DSMES via telemedicine over 12 weeks (n=50 per group). The study will be conducted at a single large federally qualified health centre system. The control group will receive culturally tailored DSMES and blinded CGM. The intervention group will receive DSMES and RT-CGM. The DSMES is conducted by community health educators weekly over 12 weeks in Spanish or English, based on participant's language preference. Patients in the RT-CGM group will have cyclical use with a goal of 50 days wear time. The primary outcomes are changes in haemoglobin A1c and CGM-derived metrics at 3 and 6 months. The secondary outcomes include participants' self-management knowledge and behaviour and household members' change in lifestyle. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study proposal was approved by the University of Washington ethics/institutional review board (IRB) Committee as minimal risk (IRB ID: STUDY00014396) and the Sea Mar IRB committee. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05394844.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Cedeno
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laura Montour
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ka'imi Sinclair
- Washington State University - Spokane, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Gary Ferguson
- Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | | | - Bryan Comstock
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lorena Wright
- Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wagner B, Snoubar Y, Mahdi YS. Access and efficacy of university mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1269010. [PMID: 38174076 PMCID: PMC10761424 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1269010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This study sought to understand the mental health issues, mental health support and efficacy of that support among university students. Participants All students enrolled in a College of Arts and Sciences at one mid-size university received an email that contained a link to an anonymous, online questionnaire developed and disseminated through PsychData. 162 students completed the questionnaire. Methods Mixed methods: Data was summarized using descriptive analysis, testing for significance, testing for differences, and content analysis. Results Participants reported high levels of anxiety (76%) and depression (65%). Results indicated that participant demographics were associated with types of mental access, and support. Unexpected results included lack of knowledge or information on cost, and how to access mental health services hindered access for participants, and although telehealth was the most widely used support, in contrast to other studies, participants indicated a preference for face-to-face mental health services. Conclusion Results highlight the need for improving communication about and access to mental health services in higher education Recommendations and implications for policy and support services are provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beverly Wagner
- Social Work Department, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, United States
| | - Yaser Snoubar
- Social Sciences Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lin B, Costakis A, John M, Linder H. Decreased inpatient psychiatric admissions with telepsychiatry use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1172019. [PMID: 37351003 PMCID: PMC10284274 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1172019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study examines the quality of care provided through telepsychiatry by comparing psychiatric hospitalization rates among patients receiving in-person psychiatric care prior to the COVID-19 pandemic with rates among patients receiving virtual psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Mental health-related hospitalization rates among patients enrolled in a large academic hospital's outpatient psychiatry programs between March 1, 2018 and February 28, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Four time periods were created, spanning March 1 to February 28 of the following year. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the electronic health record, and descriptive statistics were calculated. Change in hospitalization rate between time periods was evaluated using McNemar's test. Results In the 2018 time period, 7.38% of all enrolled patients were hospitalized, compared to 7.70% hospitalized in the 2019 period, 5.74% in the 2020 period, and 5.38% in the 2021 period. Patients enrolled in both the 2018 and the 2019 periods saw no difference in hospitalization rate between the 2 years (2.93% in 2018, 2.83% in 2019; p = 0.830); patients enrolled in both 2019 and 2020 saw significantly lower hospitalization rates in 2020 (5.47% in 2019, 4.58% in 2020; p = 0.022); and patients enrolled in both 2020 and 2021 saw no difference (3.34% in 2020, 3.23% in 2021; p = 0.777). Conclusion Psychiatric hospitalization rates significantly decreased between the 2019 and the 2020 periods, suggesting a decrease in admissions associated with adoption of telepsychiatry. Future research should differentiate the roles played by telepsychiatry and COVID-19-related factors in reducing hospitalization rates during the pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brendon Lin
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Anna Costakis
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, United States
| | - Majnu John
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, United States
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Howard Linder
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ganguli I, Orav EJ, Hailu R, Lii J, Rosenthal MB, Ritchie CS, Mehrotra A. Patient Characteristics Associated With Being Offered or Choosing Telephone vs Video Virtual Visits Among Medicare Beneficiaries. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e235242. [PMID: 36988958 PMCID: PMC10061240 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.5242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance After the rapid expansion of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is debate about the role and reimbursement of telephone vs video visits. Missing is an understanding of what type of virtual visits clinicians may offer or patients may choose when given the option. Objective To evaluate characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries associated with practices and clinicians offering telephone visits only and patients receiving telephone visits only, when both telephone and video were available. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study used 2019-2020 nationally representative Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data. Participants included community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries with a usual source of medical care who attended a practice offering telemedicine. Data were analyzed from May 3 to August 23, 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify patient sociodemographic (age, sex, race, ethnicity, educational level, income, English proficiency, housing type, and number living at home), clinical (dementia, mental illness, self-rated health, hearing impairment, and vision impairment), and technology (technology access and prior use of video visits) factors associated with respondents' report of (1) practices offering telephone virtual visits only, (2) being offered telephone visits only when both video and telephone visits were available, and (3) receiving telephone visits only when both video and telephone visits were offered. Results Of 4691 respondents (representing 27 887 642 Medicare beneficiaries; mean [SD] age, 71.3[8.1] years; 55.0% female) reporting that their practice offered telemedicine, 1234 (23.3% weighted) reported that their practices offered telephone virtual visits only; factors associated with being in a practice offering telephone only included older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.62 [95% CI, 1.10-2.39] for those aged ≥85 years vs 18-64 years), male sex (aOR, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.12-1.64]), Hispanic ethnicity (aOR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.03-1.95]), lower income (aOR, 1.89 [95% CI, 1.43-2.49] for those with income ≤100% vs >200% of the federal poverty level), poor self-rated health (aOR, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.01-1.56]), and less technology access (aOR, 2.05 [95% CI, 1.61-2.60] for those with low vs high access). Of the 1593 patients in practices offering both video and telephone visits, 297 (16.7% weighted) were themselves offered telephone visits only; factors associated with being offered telephone only included Hispanic ethnicity (aOR, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.13-3.41]), limited English proficiency (aOR, 3.05 [95% CI, 1.28-7.31]), and less technology access (aOR, 1.68 [95% CI, 1.00-2.81] for those with low vs high access). Finally, of the 711 respondents who were themselves offered both video and telephone visits, 304 (43.1% weighted) had a telephone visit; factors associated with receiving telephone visits only were older age (aOR, 2.68 [95% CI, 1.21-5.92] for those aged 75-84 years vs 18-64 years) and less technology access (aOR, 2.65 [95% CI, 1.12-6.25] for those with moderate vs high access]). Among those who used video calls in other settings and were offered a choice, 122 (28.5%, weighted) chose telephone visits. Conclusions and Relevance In this survey study of Medicare beneficiaries, respondents often reported being offered or choosing telephone visits even when video visits were available. Study findings suggest that policy makers and clinical leaders should support the use of telephone visits to the extent that telephone is appropriate, while addressing both practice-level and patient-level barriers to video visits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ishani Ganguli
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - E John Orav
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ruth Hailu
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joyce Lii
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Meredith B Rosenthal
- Department of Health Care Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christine S Ritchie
- Mongan Institute and the Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ateev Mehrotra
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Willis HA, Gonzalez JC, Call CC, Quezada D, Galán CA. Culturally Responsive Telepsychology & mHealth Interventions for Racial-Ethnic Minoritized Youth: Research Gaps and Future Directions. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL FOR THE SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DIVISION 53 2022; 51:1053-1069. [PMID: 36227174 PMCID: PMC9627988 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2022.2124516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Telepsychology and mHealth (TPmH) services for youth and their families have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. However, significant limitations in theory, research, and policy introduce questions about the effectiveness of such interventions, particularly for racial-ethnic minoritized youth and their families, who already contend with inequities in mental health treatment access and outcomes. Although TPmH have the potential to reduce barriers to mental health services in ways that may benefit racial-ethnic minoritized youth and their families, the mental health field must first grapple with limitations in culturally responsive TPmH work to avoid perpetuating existing mental health inequities. As such, this article begins by briefly reviewing extant literature on (1) TPmH for youth, (2) culturally adapted or culturally responsive evidence-based interventions for racial-ethnic minoritized youth and families, and (3) the intersection of TPmH and culturally responsive interventions. Informed by the gaps identified by this review, we provide recommendations for future directions in culturally responsive TPmH for racial-ethnic minoritized youth and families. These recommendations have been organized into four overarching categories: (1) conceptual and theoretical recommendations, (2) research priorities, (3) practice and policy recommendations, and (4) engagement and access recommendations. These recommendations offer novel ideas for researchers, clinicians, funding agencies, policy-makers, and other key stakeholders and are intended to facilitate equity in TPmH for racial-ethnic minoritized youth and their families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Carlos Gonzalez
- Department of Counseling, Clinical, & School Psychology, University of California
| | | | - David Quezada
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Buchanan GJR, Ballard J, Fatiha N, Song S, Solheim C. Resilience in the system: COVID-19 and immigrant- and refugee-serving health and human service providers. FAMILIES, SYSTEMS & HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF COLLABORATIVE FAMILY HEALTHCARE 2022; 40:111-119. [PMID: 34807638 PMCID: PMC9762549 DOI: 10.1037/fsh0000662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immigrant and refugee families in the U.S. have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health and human service providers who serve these communities have been essential in supporting them during this crisis, yet have also had to adapt the way they provide services. The current study aims to describe the challenges these service providers have faced and the adaptations they have made. METHOD Our research team conducted semistructured interviews with 19 service providers at 10 organizations identified as serving one or more immigrant and/or refugee communities in the state of Minnesota. We analyzed the interviews for themes and used normalization process theory (May & Finch, 2009) to understand how service providers have shown resilience and where gaps in capacity emerged. RESULTS Mechanisms of adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis included staff taking on larger workloads, utilizing existing service frameworks in new ways, shifting their services remotely and/or substantively, and utilizing the trust they had built with communities and individuals over time. Challenges that had not been fully overcome included insufficient funding for community need and restrictions on methods of interaction. DISCUSSION Key implications include allocating funding for immigrant and refugee families, developing and evaluating new service formats in collaboration with clients, providing direct support for staff in times of crisis, and using practice-based evidence to speed implementation science research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen J. R. Buchanan
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
- Center for Mental Health Services Research, Brown School of Social Work and Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Jaime Ballard
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
| | - Nusroon Fatiha
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
| | - Soyoul Song
- Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Montelongo A, Becker JL, Roman R, de Oliveira EB, Umpierre RN, Gonçalves MR, Silva R, Doniec K, Yetisen AK. The management of COVID-19 cases through telemedicine in Brazil. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254339. [PMID: 34260644 PMCID: PMC8279372 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In Dec 2020 Brazil became one of the worldwide epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 7.2M reported cases. Brazil has a large territory with unequal distribution of healthcare resources including physicians. Resource limitation has been one of the main factors hampering Brazil's response to the COVID-19 crisis. Telemedicine has been an effective approach for COVID-19 management as it allows to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and provides support to remote rural locations. Here we present the analyses of teleconsultations from a countrywide telemedicine service (TelessáudeRS-UFRGS, TRS), that provides physician-to-physician remote support during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. We performed a descriptive analysis of the teleconsultation incoming calls and a text analysis from the call transcripts. Our findings indicate that TRS teleconsultations in Brazil experienced an exponential increment of 802.% during a period of 6 days, after the first death due to COVID-19 was reported. However, the number of teleconsultations cases decreased over time, despite the number of reported COVID-19 cases continuously increasing. The results also showed that physicians in low-income municipalities, based on GDP per capita, are less likely to consult the telemedicine service despite facing higher rates of COVID-19 cases. The text analysis of call transcripts from medical teleconsultations showed that the main concern of physicians were "asymptomatic" patients. We suggest an immediate reinforcement of telehealth services in the regions of lower income as a strategy to support COVID-19 management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Montelongo
- TelessaudeRS, Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Operations Research, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (EA/UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - João Luiz Becker
- Management School, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV/EASP), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rudi Roman
- TelessaudeRS, Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Roberto Nunes Umpierre
- TelessaudeRS, Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- School of Medicine, The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Rodrigues Gonçalves
- TelessaudeRS, Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- School of Medicine, The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Silva
- TelessaudeRS, Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Katarzyna Doniec
- Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ali K. Yetisen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|