Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth During COVID-19: Experience in a Rural County on the United States-Mexico Border

Statistical Analysis of Telehealth Use and Pre- and Postpandemic Insurance Coverage in Selected Health Care Specialties in a Large Health Care System in Arkansas: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered policy changes in 2020 that allowed insurance companies to reimburse telehealth services, leading to increased telehealth use, especially in rural and underserved areas. However, with many emergency rules ending in 2022, patients and health care providers face potential challenges in accessing these services.

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzed telehealth use across specialties in Arkansas before and after the pandemic (2017-2022) using data from electronic medical records from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center. We explored trends in insurance coverage for telehealth visits and developed metrics to compare the performance of telehealth versus in-person visits across various specialties. The results inform insurance coverage decisions for telehealth services.

METHODS

We used pre- and postpandemic data to determine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in reimbursement policies on telehealth visits. We proposed a framework to calculate 3 appointment metrics: indirect waiting time, direct waiting time, and appointment length. Statistical analysis tools were used to compare the performance of telehealth and in-person visits across the following specialties: obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine, gerontology, internal medicine, neurology, and neurosurgery. We used data from approximately 4 million in-person visits and 300,000 telehealth visits collected from 2017 to 2022.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in telehealth visits across all specialties (P<.001), showing an 89% increase from 51,589 visits in 2019 to 97,461 visits in 2020, followed by a 21% increase to 117,730 visits in 2021. Around 92.57% (134,221/145,001) of telehealth patients from 2020 to 2022 were covered by Medicare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, commercial and managed care, Medicaid, and Medicare Managed Care. In-person visits covered by Medicare and Medicaid decreased by 15%, from 313,196 in 2019 to 264,696 in 2022. During 2020 to 2022, about 22.84% (33,123/145,001) of total telehealth visits during this period were covered by Medicare and 53.58% (86,317/161,092) were in psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, and family medicine. We noticed a statistically significant decrease (P<.001) in the average indirect waiting time for telehealth visits, from 48.4 to 27.7 days, and a statistically significant reduction in appointment length, from 93.2 minutes in 2020 to 39.59 minutes in 2022. The indirect waiting time for psychiatry telehealth visits was almost 50% shorter than that for in-person visits. These findings highlight the potential benefits of telehealth in providing access to health care, particularly for patients needing psychiatric care.

CONCLUSIONS

Reverting to prepandemic regulations could negatively affect Arkansas, where many live in underserved areas. Our analysis shows that telehealth use remained stable beyond 2020, with psychiatry visits continuing to grow. These findings may guide insurance and policy decisions in Arkansas and other regions facing similar access challenges.

Telemedicine in Advanced Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplant: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis of Studies of Patient Perspectives

Rationale & Objective

While the use of telemedicine has increased dramatically across disciplines, patient perspectives on telemedicine related to chronic kidney disease are not well understood. We systematically reviewed qualitative studies on patients with chronic kidney disease as well as those with kidney transplant to better understand these patients' perspectives related to telemedicine.

Study Design

Qualitative meta-analysis.

Setting & Participants

Pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant patients that used telemedicine.

Selection Criteria for Studies

English language studies published in the year 2000 and beyond that investigated patient perspectives in a qualitative manner. Works that were not qualitative or did not focus on provider-patient interactive modes of telemedicine were excluded.

Data Extraction

375 articles were pulled from PubMed, Embase, and Academic Science Premier. After filtering, 8 final articles were selected. These articles were critically appraised for quality and were used in the final analysis.

Analytical Approach

We used a grounded theory approach to develop a codebook to systematically review each of the selected articles through a qualitative meta-analysis of the included literature.

Results

Telemedicine was seen by patients to have notable strengths as well as weaknesses. These characteristics can be organized into 4 primary themes (autonomy, logistics, privacy/confidentiality, and trust). Within each primary theme, we identified subthemes. Universally, all articles included the subtheme "fewer trips to the health care facility" as a beneficial factor of telemedicine within the primary theme "logistics." A majority (6 of 8) of the articles included positive patient perspectives on the primary theme "autonomy" in terms of telemedicine promoting the subtheme of "engagement." Patients' views on telemedicine were mixed regarding the primary themes of "privacy/confidentiality" and "trust" related to telemedicine.

Limitations

Lack of provider perspectives, non-English studies, and studies published before the year 2000. Articles published after the start of data extraction were also not included.

Conclusions

Telemedicine should continue to be offered to patients with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant patients to facilitate access. Additional research should focus on ways to decrease negative factors experienced by some patients such as difficulty using the technology.

Translating Value Across Telehealth Stakeholders: A Rapid Review of Telehealth Measurement Evidence and a New Policy Framework to Guide Telehealth Researchers

Introduction: The surge in virtual care during the pandemic was accompanied by an increase in telehealth data of interest to policy stakeholders and other health care decision makers. However, these data often require substantial preprocessing and targeted analyses to be usable. By deliberately evaluating telehealth services with stakeholder perspectives in mind, telehealth researchers can more effectively inform clinical and policy decision making. Objective: To examine existing literature on telehealth measurement and evaluation and develop a new policy-oriented framework to guide telehealth researchers. Materials and Methods: A systematic rapid review of literature on telehealth measurement and evaluation was conducted by two independent reviewers in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The findings were analyzed and applied to the Supporting Pediatric Research on Outcomes and Utilization of Telehealth Evaluation and Measurement (STEM) Framework through the lens of key health care delivery decision makers to create a STEM Policy Framework Results: An initial search yielded 2,324 peer-reviewed articles and gray literatyre from 2012 to 2022, of which 56 met inclusion criteria. These measured and evaluated telehealth access (41.5%), quality (32.1%), cost (15.1%), experience (5.7%), and utilization (5.7%), consistent with the STEM Framework domains, but there was no universal approach. The STEM Policy Framework focuses this literature by describing data measures for each domain from the perspectives of five stakeholders. Conclusions: Literature describing measurement and evaluation approaches for telehealth is limited and not standardized, with few considering policy stakeholder perspectives. With this proposed STEM Policy Framework, we aim to improve this body of literature and support researchers seeking to inform telehealth policy through their work.

Parenting practices and interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: an exploratory cross-sectional study of caregivers in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic led countries' governments to rapidly establish lockdowns and social distancing, which altered family routines and the quality of family relationships worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to identify the impacts of the social distancing and lockdown in parenting practices of caregivers from Brazil, Mexico, and the USA, and to analyze the continuity of parenting intervention support for children and their families at the beginning of the pandemic in these countries.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 704 caregivers of children (286 from Brazil, 225 from Mexico, and 193 from the USA) who answered an online survey about parenting practices before/after quarantine, caregiver/child routines, feelings related to quarantine, changes in everyday life since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact with health professionals, and sources of parenting information.

RESULTS

Data indicate that caregivers from the three countries experienced similar parenting practices during this time, and did not report significant changes before and after the lockdown. They sought information about parenting predominantly via social media. Those receiving previous mental health care perceived the transition from in-person to telehealth services during the pandemic as feasible and acceptable.

CONCLUSION

This study will be helpful for clinicians and parents to contextualize their practices amid long-standing effects that the COVID-19 pandemic can have on children and their families during and post-pandemic from multiple cultural backgrounds.

Telemedicine Implementation for Safety Net Populations: A Systematic Review

Background: Telemedicine systems were rapidly implemented in response to COVID-19. However, little is known about their effectiveness, acceptability, and sustainability for safety net populations. This study systematically reviewed primary care telemedicine implementation and effectiveness in safety net settings. Methods: We searched PubMed for peer-reviewed articles on telemedicine implementation from 2013 to 2021. The search was done between June and December 2021. Included articles focused on health care organizations that primarily serve low-income and/or rural populations in the United States. We screened 244 articles from an initial search of 343 articles and extracted and analyzed data from N = 45 articles. Results: Nine (20%) of 45 articles were randomized controlled trials. N = 22 reported findings for at least one marginalized group (i.e., racial/ethnic minority, 65 years+, limited English proficiency). Only n = 19 (42%) included African American/Black patients in demographics descriptions, n = 14 (31%) LatinX/Hispanic patients, n = 4 (9%) Asian patients, n = 4 (9%) patients aged 65+ years, and n = 4 (9%) patients with limited English proficiency. Results show telemedicine can provide high-quality primary care that is more accessible and affordable. Fifteen studies assessed barriers and facilitators to telemedicine implementation. Common barriers were billing/administrative workflow disruption (n = 9, 20%), broadband access/quality (n = 5, 11%), and patient preference for in-person care (n = 4, 9%). Facilitators included efficiency gains (n = 6, 13%), patient acceptance (n = 3, 7%), and enhanced access (n = 3, 7%). Conclusions: Telemedicine is an acceptable care modality to deliver primary care in safety net settings. Future studies should compare telemedicine and in-person care quality and test strategies to improve telemedicine implementation in safety net settings.

Conjoint Analysis of Telemedicine Preferences for Hypertension Management Among Adult Patients

Background: Telemedicine has been differentially utilized by different demographic groups during COVID-19, exacerbating inequities in health care. We conducted conjoint and latent class analyses to understand factors that shape patient preferences for hypertension management telemedicine appointments. Methods: We surveyed 320 adults, oversampling participants from households that earned <$50K per year (77.2%) and speak a language other than English at home (68.8%). We asked them to choose among 2 hypothetical appointments through 12 conjoint tasks measuring 6 attributes. Individual utilities for attributes were constructed using logit estimation, and latent classes were identified and compared by demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: Respondents preferred in-person visits (0.353, standard error [SE] = 0.039) and video appointments conducted through a secure patient portal (0.002, SE = 0.040). Respondents also preferred seeing a clinician with whom they have an established relationship (0.168, SE = 0.021). We found four latent classes: "in-person" (26.5% of participants) who strongly weighted in-person appointments, "cost conscious" (8.1%) who prioritized the lowest copay ($0 to $10), "expedited" (19.7%) who prioritized getting the earliest appointment possible (same/next day or at least within the next week), and "comprehensive" (45.6%) who had preferences for in-person care and telemedicine appointments through a secure portal, low copayments, and the ability to see a familiar clinician. Conclusions: Appointment preferences for hypertension management can be segmented into four groups that prioritize (1) in-person care, (2) low copayments, (3) expedited care, and (4) balanced preferences for in-person and telemedicine appointments. Evidence is needed to clarify whether aligning appointment offerings with patients' preferences can improve care quality, equity, and efficiency.

Telehealth Utilization and Good Care among Informal Caregivers: Health Information National Trends Survey, 2022

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth services. Informal caregivers provide vital support to family and friends. Studying telehealth among informal caregivers is crucial to understanding how technology can support and enhance their caregiving responsibilities, potentially enhancing telehealth services for them as well as their patients. The present study aims to nationally investigate telehealth utilization and quality among informal caregivers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional investigation employed the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) dataset. Informal caregivers, telehealth variables (utilization, good care, technical problems, convenience, and concerns about infection exposure), and sociodemographic factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, education, health insurance, and census regions) were identified based on questions in the survey. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values.

RESULTS

Significant disparities in telehealth utilization were detected among informal caregivers (N = 831), when telehealth users were compared to non-users. Those aged 50-64 (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.20-0.65) and 65+ (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.21-0.74) had significantly lower odds of using telehealth than those aged 35-49. Men had significantly lower odds of telehealth utilization (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.25-0.87). Black caregivers compared to Whites had significantly lower odds (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.24-0.99), while health insurance increased odds (OR = 5.31, 95% CI = 1.67-16.86) of telehealth utilization. Informal caregivers who used telehealth were more likely to be perceived as good telehealth caregivers if they had no telehealth technical issues compared to caregivers who had (OR = 4.61, CI = 1.61-13.16; p-value = 0.0051) and if they were from the South compared to the West (OR = 2.95, CI = 1.18-7.37, p-value = 0.0213).

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, we have nationally investigated telehealth utilization and quality among informal caregivers. Disparities in telehealth utilization among informal caregivers are evident, with age, gender, race, and health insurance being significant determinants. Telehealth quality is significantly influenced by technical problems and census regions, emphasizing the importance of addressing these aspects in telehealth service development for informal caregivers.

COVID-19 preparedness and response in rural and remote areas: A scoping review

This scoping review used the Arksey and O'Malley approach to explore COVID-19 preparedness and response in rural and remote areas to identify lessons to inform future health preparedness and response planning. A search of scientific and grey literature for rural COVID-19 preparedness and responses identified 5 668 articles published between 2019 and early 2022. A total of 293 articles were included, of which 160 (54.5%) were from high income countries and 106 (36.2%) from middle income countries. Studies focused mostly on the Maintenance of Essential Health Services (63; 21.5%), Surveillance, epidemiological investigation, contact tracing and adjustment of public health and social measures (60; 20.5%), Coordination and Planning (32; 10.9%); Case Management (30; 10.2%), Social Determinants of Health (29; 10%) and Risk Communication (22; 7.5%). Rural health systems were less prepared and national COVID-19 responses were often not adequately tailored to rural areas. Promising COVID-19 responses involved local leaders and communities, were collaborative and multisectoral, and engaged local cultures. Non-pharmaceutical interventions were applied less, support for access to water and sanitation at scale was weak, and more targeted approaches to the isolation of cases and quarantine of contacts were preferable to blanket lockdowns. Rural pharmacists, community health workers and agricultural extension workers assisted in overcoming shortages of health professionals. Vaccination coverage was hindered by weaker rural health systems. Digital technology enabled better coordination, communication, and access to health services, yet for some was inaccessible. Rural livelihoods and food security were affected through disruptions to local labour markets, farm produce markets and input supply chains. Important lessons include the need for rural proofing national health preparedness and response and optimizing synergies between top-down planning with localised planning and coordination. Equity-oriented rural health systems strengthening and action on rural social determinants is essential to better prepare for and respond to future outbreaks.

Telehealth Policy, Practice, and Education: a Position Statement of the Society of General Internal Medicine

Telehealth services, specifically telemedicine audio-video and audio-only patient encounters, expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic through temporary waivers and flexibilities tied to the public health emergency. Early studies demonstrate significant potential to advance the quintuple aim (patient experience, health outcomes, cost, clinician well-being, and equity). Supported well, telemedicine can particularly improve patient satisfaction, health outcomes, and equity. Implemented poorly, telemedicine can facilitate unsafe care, worsen disparities, and waste resources. Without further action from lawmakers and agencies, payment will end for many telemedicine services currently used by millions of Americans at the end of 2024. Policymakers, health systems, clinicians, and educators must decide how to support, implement, and sustain telemedicine, and long-term studies and clinical practice guidelines are emerging to provide direction. In this position statement, we use clinical vignettes to review relevant literature and highlight where key actions are needed. These include areas where telemedicine must be expanded (e.g., to support chronic disease management) and where guidelines are needed (e.g., to prevent inequitable offering of telemedicine services and prevent unsafe or low-value care). We provide policy, clinical practice, and education recommendations for telemedicine on behalf of the Society of General Internal Medicine. Policy recommendations include ending geographic and site restrictions, expanding the definition of telemedicine to include audio-only services, establishing appropriate telemedicine service codes, and expanding broadband access to all Americans. Clinical practice recommendations include ensuring appropriate telemedicine use (for limited acute care situations or in conjunction with in-person services to extend longitudinal care relationships), that the choice of modality be done through patient-clinician shared decision-making, and that health systems design telemedicine services through community partnerships to ensure equitable implementation. Education recommendations include developing telemedicine-specific educational strategies for trainees that align with accreditation body competencies and providing educators with protected time and faculty development resources.

Video Telemedicine Experiences In COVID-19 Were Positive, But Physicians And Patients Prefer In-Person Care For The Future

To help inform policy discussions about postpandemic telemedicine reimbursement and regulations, we conducted dual nationally representative surveys among primary care physicians and patients. Although majorities of both populations reported satisfaction with video visits during the pandemic, 80 percent of physicians would prefer to provide only a small share of care or no care via telemedicine in the future, and only 36 percent of patients would prefer to seek care by video or phone. Most physicians (60 percent) felt that the quality of video telemedicine care was generally inferior to the quality of in-person care, and both patients and physicians cited the lack of physical exam as a key reason (90 percent and 92 percent, respectively). Patients who were older, had less education, or were Asian were less likely to want to use video for future care. Although improvements to home-based diagnostic tools could improve both the quality of and the desire to use telemedicine, virtual primary care will likely be limited in the immediate future. Policies to enhance quality, sustain virtual care, and address inequities in the online setting may be needed.

Applications of Telemedicine in Speech-Language Pathology: Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction with speech-language therapy televisits and to identify factors influencing the level of satisfaction.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from an academic tertiary voice and swallowing center who had completed ≥1 telehealth session of speech-language therapy with a speech-language pathologist between March, 2020 and April, 2021. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS), a validated 7-item survey. Demographic characteristics of participants were collected from a review of patient charts.

RESULTS

65/239 patients completed the SAPS survey, representing a response rate of 27%. The average age of study participants was 54.92 ± 16.45 years, with 49.2% identifying as female, 33.9% as male, and 16.9% as trans-female. The mean SAPS score was 22.60 ± 3.89, with 84.62% of patients satisfied or very satisfied with their visit. Patients were most satisfied with provider respect (3.91 ± 0.34) and care received (3.74 ± 0.64), and least satisfied with visit length (2.32 ± 1.38) and explanation of treatment results (2.62 ± 1.72). Patient satisfaction was positively correlated with younger age and an increased number of televisits. Satisfaction did not differ significantly by gender identity, type of therapy received, insurance type, travel distance, or prior in-person therapy.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians are able to achieve high patient satisfaction with speech-language therapy when delivered by telehealth. Patient satisfaction remained high across diverse patient populations and range of clinical needs. Clinicians should remain cognizant of the unique limitations of older patients when conducting telehealth visits.

LAY SUMMARY

Clinicians are able to achieve high patient satisfaction with speech-language therapy when delivered via telehealth. Satisfaction remained high regardless of gender identity, type of therapy received, type of insurance, travel distance, or completion of prior in-person therapy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 133:895-900, 2023.

High Satisfaction with Patient-Centered Telemedicine for Hepatitis C Virus Delivered to Substance Users: A Mixed-Methods Study

Background: While telemedicine may increase health care access for vulnerable populations, data are limited on whether people with opioid use disorder (PWOUD) are satisfied with telemedicine. We assessed PWOUD satisfaction with telemedicine and identified factors that increase telemedicine satisfaction. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected persons enrolled at 12 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) throughout New York State. Participants successfully completed HCV treatment either through telemedicine integrated into OTPs (N = 238) or through offsite referral (N = 106). We evaluated Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) response scores at the initial and final health care encounters and subsequently interviewed telemedicine study participants (N = 25) to assess their experiences with telemedicine. Results: All participants (N = 344) successfully completed HCV treatment. We observed no differences in PSQ scores between telemedicine and in-person encounters (98.3% and 98.7% of telemedicine participants provided PSQ scores of satisfied or highly satisfied at each timepoint, respectively). Study participants indicated that attributes associated with high telemedicine encounter satisfaction included: (1) communicating study information, (2) gaining trust, and (3) delivering patient-centered care. Participants weighted "General Satisfaction" and "Time Spent with Doctor" higher than "Accessibility and Convenience," and female participants were significantly more satisfied than males. Satisfaction with health care delivery among all participants increased significantly comparing timepoints. Conclusions: Participants were highly satisfied with HCV telemedicine encounters equivalent to in-person encounters. Communication augments trust facilitating delivery of patient-centered care through telemedicine. Participants value empathy and trust with providers over accessibility and convenience. In summary, PWOUD are highly satisfied with the facilitated telemedicine model and value empathetic and trusting providers. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02933970.

Patient satisfaction with telehealth versus in-person visits during COVID-19 at a large, public healthcare system

RATIONALE

During the coronavirus disease pandemic, audio-only and video telehealth visits became more widely available, but the relative patient satisfaction between telehealth and in-person modalities is not well-described.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to compare patient satisfaction with audio-only, video, and in-person adult primary care visits at a large, urban public healthcare system.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we used aggregated data from Press Ganey patient satisfaction surveys at 17 primary care facilities at New York City Health + Hospitals for visits between 1 June 2021 to 30 November 2021. We compared mean scores for questions common to surveys for each modality in domains of Access, Care Provider, and Overall Assessment using pairwise comparisons with two-tailed t-tests.

RESULTS

There were 7,183/79,562 (9.0%) respondents for in-person visits and 1,009/15,092 (6.7%) respondents for telehealth visits. Compared to respondents for in-person visits, respondents for telehealth visits were more likely to be aged 35-64 years, Asian, and speak English as their primary language, and less likely to be ≥65 years old, Black or other race, and speak Spanish or another language as their primary language (p < 0.001). Patients reported higher mean satisfaction for Access measures for telehealth visits than in-person visits (p < 0.001). For Care Provider satisfaction questions, video visits generally had higher mean scores than in-person and, in turn, audio-only visits. For Overall Assessment questions, video visits had higher mean scores than in-person and, subsequently, audio-only visits.

CONCLUSION

Of the visit modalities, video visits had the highest mean satisfaction scores across all domains. Telehealth may improve experiences with access, but audio-only visits may provide poorer visit experiences.

Patients' Perspectives on the Shift to Telemedicine in Primary and Behavioral Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

Studies specifically focused on patients' perspectives on telemedicine visits in primary and behavioral health care are fairly limited and have often focused on highly selected populations or used overall satisfaction surveys.

OBJECTIVE

To examine patient perspectives on the shift to telemedicine, the remote delivery of health care via the use of electronic information and communications technology, in primary and behavioral health care in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) during COVID-19.

DESIGN

Semi-structured interviews were conducted using video conference with patients and caregivers between October and December 2020.

PARTICIPANTS

Providers from 6 FQHCs nominated participants. Eighteen patients and caregivers were interviewed: 6 patients with only primary care visits; 5 with only behavioral health visits; 3 with both primary care and behavioral health visits; and 4 caregivers of children with pediatric visits.

APPROACH

Using a protocol-driven, rapid qualitative methodology, we analyzed the interview data and assessed the quality of care, benefits and challenges of telemedicine, and use of telemedicine post-pandemic.

KEY RESULTS

Respondents broadly supported the option of home-based synchronous telemedicine visits in primary and behavioral health care. Nearly all respondents appreciated remote visits, largely because such visits provided a safe option during the pandemic. Patients were generally satisfied with telemedicine and believed the quality of visits to be similar to in-person visits, especially when delivered by a provider with whom they had established rapport. Although most respondents planned to return to mostly in-person visits when considered safe to do so, they remained supportive of the continued option for remote visits as remote care addresses some of the typical barriers faced by low-income patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing digital literacy challenges, enhancing remote visit privacy, and improving practice workflows will help ensure equitable access to all patients as we move to a new post-COVID-19 "normal" marked by increased reliance on telemedicine and technology.

Women's Satisfaction With Telehealth Services During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Survey Study

BACKGROUND

Since March 2020, the need to reduce patients' exposure to COVID-19 has resulted in a large-scale pivot to telehealth service delivery. Although studies report that pregnant women have been generally satisfied with their prenatal telehealth experiences during the pandemic, less is known about telehealth satisfaction among postpartum women.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined telehealth satisfaction among both pregnant and recently pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, to determine whether demographic factors (ie, race, age, marital status, education level, household income, and employment status) are associated with telehealth satisfaction in this population.

METHODS

A web-based cross-sectional survey designed to capture data on health-related behaviors and health care experiences of pregnant and recently pregnant women in the United States was disseminated in Spring 2022. Eligible participants were at least 18 years old, identified as a woman, and were currently pregnant or had been pregnant in the last 3 years.

RESULTS

In the final analytic sample of N=403, the mean telehealth satisfaction score was 3.97 (SD 0.66; score range 1-5). In adjusted linear regression models, being aged 35-44 years (vs 18-24 years), having an annual income of ≥ US $100,000 (vs < US $50,000), and being recently (vs currently) pregnant were associated with greater telehealth satisfaction (P≤.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Although perinatal women are generally satisfied with telehealth, disparities exist. Specifically, being aged 18-24 years, having an annual income of < US $50,000, and being currently pregnant were associated with lower telehealth satisfaction. It is critical that public health policies or programs consider these factors, especially if the expanded use of telehealth is to persist beyond the pandemic.

Telehealth in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: before, during, and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Many healthcare systems rapidly implemented telehealth as a substitute for in-person care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this review is to describe the evidence base supporting the use of telehealth for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, discuss the barriers to implementing telehealth during the pandemic, and share our opinion about the future of telehealth in COPD.

RECENT FINDINGS

The evidence from randomized clinical trials in COPD completed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that the effectiveness of telehealth interventions compared to in-person usual care on clinical outcomes is inconclusive. Recent experience during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that telehealth may increase access to healthcare and satisfaction with care when delivered in addition to usual in-person care. While some reimbursement-related barriers to telehealth have been alleviated during the COVID-19 pandemic, several patient, provider, and health-system barriers to implementation remain.

SUMMARY

There is a need to further evaluate the delivery of telehealth services as an adjunct to traditional in-person models of COPD care. Standardization and reporting of core clinical, satisfaction, accessibility, and quality of care outcomes are needed to promote cross-study learning and more rapid translation of research evidence into practice.

Satisfaction can co-exist with hesitation: qualitative analysis of acceptability of telemedicine among multi-lingual patients in a safety-net healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented expansion of outpatient telemedicine in the United States in all types of health systems, including safety-net health systems. These systems generally serve low-income, racially/ethnically/linguistically diverse patients, many of whom face barriers to digital health access. These patients’ perspectives are vital to inform ongoing, equitable implementation efforts.

Methods

Twenty-five semi-structured interviews exploring a theoretical framework of technology acceptability were conducted from March through July 2020. Participants had preferred languages of English, Spanish, or Cantonese and were recruited from three clinics (general medicine, obstetrics, and pulmonary) within the San Francisco Health Network. Both deductive and inductive coding were performed. In a secondary analysis, qualitative data were merged with survey data to relate perspectives to demographic factors and technology access/use.

Results

Participants were diverse with respect to language (52% non-English-speaking), age (range 23-71), race/ethnicity (24% Asian, 20% Black, 44% Hispanic/Latinx, 12% White), & smartphone use (80% daily, 20% weekly or less). All but 2 had a recent telemedicine visit (83% telephone). Qualitative results revealed that most participants felt telemedicine visits fulfilled their medical needs, were convenient, and were satisfied with their telemedicine care. However, most still preferred in-person visits, expressing concern that tele-visits relied on patients’ abilities to access telemedicine, as well as monitor and manage their own health without in-person physical evaluation.

Conclusions

High satisfaction with telemedicine can co-exist with patient-expressed hesitations surrounding the perceived effectiveness, self-efficacy, and digital access barriers associated with a new model of care. More research is needed to guide how healthcare systems and clinicians make decisions and communicate about visit modalities to support high-quality care that responds to patients’ needs and circumstances.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-07547-9.