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Adler-Milstein J, Gopalan A, Huang J, Toretsky C, Reed M. Patterns of Telemedicine Use in Primary Care for People with Dementia in the Post-pandemic Period. J Gen Intern Med 2024:10.1007/s11606-024-08836-1. [PMID: 39046633 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-08836-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pandemic rapidly expanded telemedicine, which has persisted as a widely available primary care modality. The uptake of telemedicine among people with dementia specifically in the primary care setting, who have more complex care needs but also benefit from more accessible primary care, is unknown. OBJECTIVE Among people with dementia, assess uptake of telemedicine-based primary care in the post-pandemic period and determine associations with key socio-demographic characteristics. DESIGN Retrospective observational study. SUBJECTS People with dementia at UCSF and Kaiser Permanente Northern CA (KPNC) with at least one primary care encounter in pre- (3/1/2019-2/29/2020) or post-COVID (3/1/2021-2/28/2022) periods, post-COVID sample: N= 419 individuals (UCSF), N=18,037 (KPNC). MAIN MEASURES Encounter modality: in-person, video telemedicine, or telephone telemedicine. Focal socio-demographic characteristics: age, limited English proficiency, socioeconomic status, driving distance to clinic, and caregiver at encounter. KEY RESULTS There was a large increase in telemedicine among people with dementia in the post-pandemic period at both sites. At KPNC, those with only in-person primary care visits shrunk from 60.47% (pre) to 26.95% (post). At UCSF, the change was even greater: 98.99% to 35.08%. Across both sites, the only measure significantly associated with use of telemedicine was greater driving distance from home to clinic. At KPNC, those over age 90 were most likely to use telemedicine while patients with limited English proficiency and those with a caregiver at the encounter used telemedicine at lower levels. The relationships were similar at UCSF but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Telemedicine use is high for people with dementia in the primary care setting in the post-pandemic period. Those with longer drives to clinic and the oldest patients were most likely to use telemedicine, likely due to challenges traveling to appointments. Still, not all people with dementia used telemedicine equally-particularly those with limited English proficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Adler-Milstein
- Center for Clinical Informatics and Improvement Research, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Anjali Gopalan
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Jie Huang
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Christopher Toretsky
- Center for Clinical Informatics and Improvement Research, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mary Reed
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA
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Hung CT, Hung YC. Telemedicine Use Among Adults with Asthma in the United States, 2021-2022. Telemed J E Health 2024; 30:1580-1587. [PMID: 38301206 PMCID: PMC11296146 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: While previous studies have mainly focused on the impact of telemedicine on asthma management, little is known about the disparities in the use of telemedicine among individuals with asthma. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with telemedicine use among adults with asthma in the United States using a nationally representative survey. Methods: Data from the 2021 and 2022 National Health Interview Survey were used. The multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to identify the factors associated with telemedicine use among adults with asthma. Results: In 2021-2022, the prevalence of telemedicine use among adults with asthma was 47.7%. Females, individuals who were obese, current smokers, those with educational levels of college and higher, health insurance coverage, a usual place for care, a history of asthma attacks, and coronavirus disease 2019 were more likely to use telemedicine. Non-Hispanic blacks, residents in the Midwest, South, and nonmetropolitan areas were less likely to use telemedicine. Conclusions: Disparities in telemedicine use were found among several characteristics in adults with asthma. It is crucial to identify the vulnerable populations in accessing telemedicine and ensure equality in telemedicine use among patients with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Tse Hung
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chien Hung
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Wu JY, Tang M, Touponse G, Theologitis M, Williamson T, Zygourakis CC. Socioeconomic disparities in lumbar fusion rates were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. NORTH AMERICAN SPINE SOCIETY JOURNAL 2024; 18:100321. [PMID: 38741936 PMCID: PMC11089397 DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare access and utilization throughout the US, with variable impact on patients of different socioeconomic status (SES) and race. We characterize pre-pandemic and pandemic demographic and SES trends of lumbar fusion patients in the US. Methods Adults undergoing first-time lumbar fusion 1/1/2004-3/31/2021 were assessed in Clinformatics® Data Mart for patient age, geographical location, gender, race, education level, net worth, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the significance of trends over time, with a focus on pandemic trends 2020-2021 versus previous trends 2004-2019. Results The total 217,204 patients underwent lumbar fusions, 1/1/2004-3/31/2021. The numbers and per capita rates of lumbar fusions increased 2004-2019 and decreased in 2020 (first year of COVID-19 pandemic), with large variation in geographic distribution. There was overall a significant decrease in proportion of White patients undergoing lumbar fusion over time (OR=0.997, p<.001), though they were more likely to undergo surgery during the pandemic (OR=1.016, p<.001). From 2004-2021, patients were more likely to be educated beyond high school. Additionally, patients in the highest (>$500k) and lowest (<$25k) net worth categories had significantly more fusions over time (p<.001). During the pandemic (2020-2021), patients in higher net worth groups were more likely to undergo lumbar fusions ($150k-249k & $250k-499k: p<.001) whereas patients in the lowest net worth group had decreased rate of surgeries (p<.001). Lastly, patients' CCI increased significantly from 2004 to 2021 (coefficient=0.124, p<.001), and this trend held true during the pandemic (coefficient=0.179, p<.001). Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, our work represents the most comprehensive and recent characterization of SES variables in lumbar fusion rates. Unsurprisingly, lumbar fusions decreased overall with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, disparities in fusion patients across patient race and wealth widened during the pandemic, reversing years of progress, a lesson we can learn for future public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Y. Wu
- School of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Megan Tang
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Gavin Touponse
- School of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Marinos Theologitis
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Campus, P.O. Box 2208, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Theresa Williamson
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Corinna C. Zygourakis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, 453 Quarry Road Palo Alto, CA 94304, United States
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Ternes S, Lavin L, Vakkalanka JP, Healy HS, Merchant KA, Ward MM, Mohr NM. The role of increasing synchronous telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic on disparities in access to healthcare: A systematic review. J Telemed Telecare 2024:1357633X241245459. [PMID: 38646804 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x241245459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 public health emergency led to an unprecedented rapid increase in telehealth use, but the role of telehealth in reducing disparities in access to care has been questioned. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to summarize the available evidence on how telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with telehealth utilization for minority groups and its role in health disparities. METHODS We conducted a systematic review focused on health equity and access to care by searching for interventional and observational studies using the following four search domains: telehealth, COVID-19, health equity, and access to care. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, telehealth.hhs.gov, and the Rural Health Research Gateway, and included any study that reported quantitative results with a control group. RESULTS Our initial search yielded 1970 studies, and we included 48 in our final review. The most common dimensions of health equity studied were race/ethnicity, rurality, insurance status, language, and socioeconomic status, and the telehealth applications studied were diverse. Included studies had a moderate risk of bias. In aggregate, most studies reported increased telehealth use during the pandemic, with the greatest increase in non-minority populations, including White, younger, English-speaking people from urban areas. DISCUSSION We found that despite rapid adoption and increased telehealth use during the public health emergency, telehealth did not reduce existing disparities in access to care. We recommend that future work measuring the impact of telehealth focus on equity so that features of telehealth innovation can reduce disparities in health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ternes
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Lauren Lavin
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - J Priyanka Vakkalanka
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Heather S Healy
- Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kimberly As Merchant
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Marcia M Ward
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Mohr
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Anesthesia Critical Care, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Zeineddin S, Macy ML, Bouchard ME, Carroll MS, Linton S, De Boer C, Abdullah F, Ghomrawi H. Disparities in Telemedicine Use Among Children Seen in Surgical Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience of One Tertiary Care Freestanding Children's Hospital. Telemed J E Health 2024; 30:642-650. [PMID: 37910777 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Telemedicine use dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the effects of telemedicine on pre-existing disparities in pediatric surgical access have not been well described. We describe our center's early experience with telemedicine and disparities in patients' access to outpatient surgical care. Methods: A retrospective study of outpatient visits within all surgical divisions from May to December 2020 was conducted. We assessed the rates of scheduled telemedicine visits during that period, as well as the rate of completing a visit after it has been scheduled. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations between these rates and patient characteristics. Results: Over the study period, 109,601 visits were scheduled. Telemedicine accounted for 6.1% of all visits with lower cancellation rates than in-person visits (26.9% vs. 34.7%). More scheduled telemedicine encounters were observed for older patients, White, English speakers, those with private insurance, and those living in rural areas. Lower odds of telemedicine visit completion were observed among patients with public insurance (odds ratio [OR] 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64-0.77), Spanish language preference (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.97), and those living in rural areas (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64-0.84). In contrast, higher odds of telemedicine visit completion were associated with a higher Social Deprivation Index score (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.27-1.58). Telemedicine visit completion was also associated with increasing community-level income and distance from the hospital. Conclusions: Telemedicine use for outpatient surgical care was generally low during the peak of the pandemic, and certain populations were less likely to utilize it. These findings call for further action to bridge gaps in telemedicine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Zeineddin
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Michelle L Macy
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Megan E Bouchard
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael S Carroll
- Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research and Evaluation Center, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Samuel Linton
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Christopher De Boer
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Fizan Abdullah
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Hassan Ghomrawi
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Medicine (Rheumatology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Lee NS, Keddem S, Sorrentino AE, Jenkins KA, Long JA. Health Equity in the Veterans Health Administration From Veterans' Perspectives by Race and Sex. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2356600. [PMID: 38373000 PMCID: PMC10877456 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.56600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Advancing equitable patient-centered care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requires understanding the differential experiences of unique patient groups. Objective To inform a comprehensive strategy for improving VHA health equity through the comparative qualitative analysis of care experiences at the VHA among veterans of Black and White race and male and female sex. Design, Setting, and Participants This qualitative study used a technique termed freelisting, an anthropologic technique eliciting responses in list form, at an urban academic VHA medical center from August 2, 2021, to February 9, 2022. Participants included veterans with chronic hypertension. The length of individual lists, item order in those lists, and item frequency across lists were used to calculate a salience score for each item, allowing comparison of salient words and topics within and across different groups. Participants were asked about current perceptions of VHA care, challenges in the past year, virtual care, suggestions for change, and experiences of racism. Data were analyzed from February 10 through September 30, 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures The Smith salience index, which measures the frequency and rank of each word or phrase, was calculated for each group. Results Responses from 49 veterans (12 Black men, 12 Black women, 12 White men, and 13 White women) were compared by race (24 Black and 25 White) and sex (24 men and 25 women). The mean (SD) age was 64.5 (9.2) years. Some positive items were salient across race and sex, including "good medical care" and telehealth as a "comfortable/great option," as were some negative items, including "long waits/delays in getting care," "transportation/traffic challenges," and "anxiety/stress/fear." Reporting "no impact" of racism on experiences of VHA health care was salient across race and sex; however, reports of race-related unprofessional treatment and active avoidance of race-related conflict differed by race (present among Black and not White participants). Experiences of interpersonal interactions also diverged. "Impersonal/cursory" telehealth experiences and the need for "more personal/attentive" care were salient among women and Black participants, but not men or White participants, who associated VHA care with courtesy and respect. Conclusions and Relevance In this qualitative freelist study of veteran experiences, divergent experiences of interpersonal care by race and sex provided insights for improving equitable, patient-centered VHA care. Future research and interventions could focus on identifying differences across broader categories both within and beyond race and sex and bolstering efforts to improve respect and personalized care to diverse veteran populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie S. Lee
- Division of General Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus
- Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Shimrit Keddem
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Anneliese E. Sorrentino
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kevin Ahmaad Jenkins
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Judith A. Long
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
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Wu JY, Touponse GC, Theologitis M, Ahmad HS, Zygourakis CC. Demographic and Socioeconomic Trends in Cervical Fusion Utilization from 2004 Through 2021 and the COVID-19 Pandemic. World Neurosurg 2024; 182:e107-e125. [PMID: 38000672 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.11.055] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervical fusion rates increased in the U.S. exponentially 1990-2014, but trends leading up to/during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been fully evaluated by patient socioeconomic status (SES). Here, we provide the most recent, comprehensive characterization of demographic and SES trends in cervical fusions, including during the pandemic. METHODS We collected the following variables on adults undergoing cervical fusions, 1/1/2004-3/31/2021, in Optum's Clinformatics Data Mart: age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, provider's practicing state, gender, race, education, and net worth. We performed multivariate linear and logistic regression to evaluate associations of cervical fusion rates with SES variables. RESULTS Cervical fusion rates increased 2004-2016, then decreased 2016-2020. Proportions of Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients undergoing cervical fusions increased (OR = 1.001,1.001,1.004, P < 0.01), with a corresponding decrease in White patients (OR = 0.996, P < 0.001) over time. There were increases in cervical fusions in higher education groups (OR = 1.006, 1.002, P < 0.001) and lowest net worth group (OR = 1.012, P < 0.001). During the pandemic, proportions of White (OR = 1.015, P < 0.01) and wealthier patients (OR ≥ 1.015, P < 0.01) undergoing cervical fusions increased. CONCLUSIONS We present the first documented decrease in annual cervical surgery rates in the U.S. Our data reveal a bimodal distribution for cervical fusion patients, with racial-minority, lower-net-worth, and highly-educated patients receiving increasing proportions of surgical interventions. White and wealthier patients were more likely to undergo cervical fusions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been reported in other areas of medicine but not yet in spine surgery. There is still considerable work needed to improve equitable access to spine care for the entire U.S. POPULATION
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Y Wu
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gavin C Touponse
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Hasan S Ahmad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Corinna C Zygourakis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA.
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Berry JG, Ferrari L, Ward VL, Hall M, Desmarais A, Raval MV, Tian Y, Mathieu D, Incorvia J, Meara JG. Child Opportunity Index Disparities in Pediatric Surgical Encounters During the Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic. Acad Pediatr 2024; 24:43-50. [PMID: 37625667 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Surgical encounters decreased during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and may have been deferred more in children with impeded health care access related to social/community risk factors. We compared surgery trends before and during the pandemic by Child Opportunity Index (COI). METHODS Retrospective analysis of 321,998 elective surgical encounters of children ages 0-to-18 years in 44 US children's hospitals from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. We used auto-regression to compare observed versus predicted encounters by month in 2020-21, modeled from 2017 to 2019 trends. Encounters were compared by COI score (very low, low, moderate, high, very high) based on education, health/environment, and social/economic attributes of the zip code from the children's home residence. RESULTS Most surgeries were on the musculoskeletal (28.1%), ear/nose/pharynx (17.1%), cardiovascular (15.1%), and digestive (9.1%) systems; 20.6% of encounters were for children with very low COI, 20.8% low COI, 19.8% moderate COI, 18.6% high COI, and 20.1% very high COI. Reductions in observed volume of 2020-21 surgeries compared with predicted varied significantly by COI, ranging from -11.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] -14.1%, -8.7%) for very low COI to -2.6% (95%CI -3.9%, 0.7%) for high COI. Variation by COI emerged in June 2020, as the volume of elective surgery encounters neared baseline. For 12 of the next 18 months, the reduction in volume of elective surgery encounters was the greatest in children with very low COI. CONCLUSIONS Children from very low COI zip codes experienced the greatest reduction in elective surgery encounters during early COVID-19 without a subsequent increase in encounters over time to counterbalance the reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay G Berry
- Complex Care (JG Berry and A Desmarais), Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Mass; Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery (JG Berry, J Incorvia, and JG Meara), Boston Children's Hospital, Mass; Department of Pediatrics (JG Berry), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
| | - Lynne Ferrari
- Perioperative Anesthesia (L Ferrari), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Valerie L Ward
- Department of Radiology (VL Ward), Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Mass; Office of Health Equity and Inclusion (VL Ward), Boston Children's Hospital, Mass; Sandra L. Fenwick Institute for Pediatric Health Equity and Inclusion (VL Ward), Boston Children's Hospital, Mass
| | - Matt Hall
- Children's Hospital Association (M Hall), Lenexa, Kans
| | - Anna Desmarais
- Complex Care (JG Berry and A Desmarais), Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Mass
| | - Mehul V Raval
- Surgical Outcomes Quality Improvement Center (MV Raval and Y Tian), Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill; Division of Pediatric Surgery (MV Raval), Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Ill
| | - Yao Tian
- Surgical Outcomes Quality Improvement Center (MV Raval and Y Tian), Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill
| | - Derek Mathieu
- Department of Finance (D Mathieu), Boston Children's Hospital, Mass; Department of Surgery (D Mathieu), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Joseph Incorvia
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery (JG Berry, J Incorvia, and JG Meara), Boston Children's Hospital, Mass
| | - John G Meara
- Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery (JG Berry, J Incorvia, and JG Meara), Boston Children's Hospital, Mass
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Forbes RC, Johnson WR, D'Souza N, Dreher A, Rega SA, Feurer ID, Concepcion BP. Disparities in telemedicine utilization among kidney transplant patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Barriers and opportunities. Clin Transplant 2023; 37:e15136. [PMID: 37715601 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.15136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic allowed for the rapid implementation of telemedicine for kidney transplant patients; however, widespread adoption may worsen existing health care inequities among vulnerable populations. This study aimed to characterize telemedicine utilization by kidney transplant patients during the early pandemic with particular attention to healthcare equity. METHODS A retrospective analysis of kidney transplant patients interacting with telemedicine was performed. Patient demographic data and distance to the transplant center were obtained. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties and Brokamp Neighborhood Deprivation Index (NDI) score were used to characterize patients' counties of residence. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations between patient and community characteristics and the likelihood of an encounter being telemedicine. RESULTS This study included 1033 patients who participated in 3727 encounters from March 11 through October 2020. Characteristics associated with decreased likelihood of telemedicine use were increased age (OR = .993; 95% CI = .986-.999, P = .022), non-White vs. White race (OR = .826, 95% CI = .697-.979; P = .028), male vs. female sex (OR = .746, 95% CI = .632-.880; P < .001), and a higher Brokamp Neighborhood Deprivation Index score (OR = .159; 95% CI = .029-.873; P = .034). The effect of distance to the transplant center on the likelihood of a telemedicine encounter differed by NCHS Urban-Rural designation (interaction P = .018), with its likelihood increasing by 2%-3% with each 10-mile increment among persons residing in medium-, small-, and non-metropolitan counties compared to those residing in the most rural counties. CONCLUSIONS Telemedicine visits were less often completed by patients of older age, non-white race, male sex, and those residing in counties having higher NDI scores. While telemedicine has the potential to improve healthcare access and decrease costs, proactive efforts need to be taken to mitigate disparities in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C Forbes
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Wali R Johnson
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nigel D'Souza
- Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Scott A Rega
- Vanderbilt Transplant Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Irene D Feurer
- Department of Surgery, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt Transplant Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Beatrice P Concepcion
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Rockholt MM, Addae G, Chee A, Chin W, Cuff G, Wang J, Umeh UO, Doan LV. Implementing Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Disparities in Utilization in an Urban Pain Medicine Practice. J Pain Res 2023; 16:2763-2775. [PMID: 37577160 PMCID: PMC10422968 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s415415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic led to a drastic expansion in utilizing telemedicine, circumventing some of the geographical barriers to accessing pain care. However, uncertainties around the impact of telemedicine across various sociodemographic groups still exist, prompting further exploration. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic factors in telemedicine utilization during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients and methods All outpatient non-procedural visits at the pain medicine division of a large academic institution in the epicenter of the pandemic (New York, USA), between March 2019 and October 2021, were retrospectively included. Sociodemographic data including gender, age, ethnicity/race, postal code, and type of health insurance, across three time periods associated with the COVID-19 pandemic - pre-lockdown (in-office visits only), lockdown (telemedicine visits only) and post-lockdown (offering both in-office and telemedicine visits) - were analyzed and compared. Results In total, 12,615 unique patients - The majority being women (58%) - were seen during the whole study period. In the post-lockdown period, telemedicine was utilized by 42% of all patients. Follow-up visits, younger patients, white patients, patients residing further away from the hospital, and privately insured patients were more likely to utilize telemedicine post-lockdown (p <0.05). Older patients, minorities, Manhattan residents, and Medicare/Medicaid recipients, were more likely to use in-office visits post-lockdown (p <0.05). Conclusion We identified disparities in the utilization of telemedicine in Pain Medicine, which may be due to socioeconomic factors such as lack of access to reliable internet access, cost of devices, and technological know-how. This emphasizes the need for further studies to better understand the reasons for and barriers to telemedicine use. This could help inform policymaking to safeguard equitable access to telemedicine use for pain care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika M Rockholt
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Gifty Addae
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Alexander Chee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Wanda Chin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Germaine Cuff
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Uchenna O Umeh
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Lisa V Doan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Management, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Crawford AM, Lightsey Iv HM, Xiong GX, Ye J, Call CM, Pomer A, Cooper Z, Simpson AK, Koehlmoos TP, Weissman JS, Schoenfeld AJ. Changes in Elective and Urgent Surgery Among TRICARE Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mil Med 2023; 188:e2397-e2404. [PMID: 36519498 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usac391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is known to have altered the capacity to perform surgical procedures in numerous health care settings. The impact of this change within the direct and private-sector settings of the Military Health System has not been effectively explored, particularly as it pertains to disparities in surgical access and shifting of services between sectors. We sought to characterize how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced access to care for surgical procedures within the direct and private-sector settings of the Military Health System. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated claims for patients receiving urgent and elective surgical procedures in March-September 2017, 2019, and 2020. The pre-COVID period consisted of 2017 and 2019 and was compared to 2020. We adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, and region of care using multivariable Poisson regression. Subanalyses considered the impact of race and sponsor rank as a proxy for socioeconomic status. RESULTS During the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no significant difference in the adjusted rate of urgent surgical procedures in direct (risk ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97-1.03) or private-sector (risk ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.02) care. This was also true for elective surgeries in both settings. No significant disparities were identified in any of the racial subgroups or proxies for socioeconomic status we considered in direct or private-sector care. CONCLUSIONS We found a similar performance of elective and urgent surgeries in both the private sector and direct care during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, no racial disparities were identified in either care setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Crawford
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Harry M Lightsey Iv
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Grace X Xiong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jamie Ye
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Alysa Pomer
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zara Cooper
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew K Simpson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tracey P Koehlmoos
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Joel S Weissman
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew J Schoenfeld
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Vallejo-Bocanumen CE, Pérez-Martínez D, Quiceno-Salazar DC, Mejía-Gonzalez YP, García-Cano JF, Martínez-Pérez DC. Experience of a TelEmergency program in Colombia South America: descriptive observational study between 2019 and 2021. BMC Emerg Med 2023; 23:75. [PMID: 37403026 PMCID: PMC10321012 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-023-00842-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colombia has 50,912,429 inhabitants, but only 50-70% of the population can effectively access health care services. The emergency room (ER) is a main contributor to the in-hospital care system since up to half of the admissions come through it. Telemedicine has become a tool to facilitate effective access to health care services, improve the timeliness of care, reduce diagnostic variability, and reduce costs associated with health. The aim of this study is to describe the experience of a Distance Emergency Care Program through Telemedicine (TelEmergency) to improve specialist access for patients at the Emergency Room (ER) in low- and medium-level care hospitals in Colombia. METHODS An observational descriptive study of a cohort including 1,544 patients during the program's first two years was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the available data. The data are presented with summarized statistics of sociodemographic, clinical, and patient-care variables. RESULTS The study included a total of 1,544 patients, and the majority were adults between 60 and 79 years of age (n = 491, 32%). More than half were men (n = 832, 54%), and 68% (n = 1,057) belonged to the contributory health care regime. The service was requested from 346 municipalities, 70% (n = 1,076) from intermediate and rural settings. The most common diagnoses were related to COVID-19 (n = 356, 22%), respiratory diseases (n = 217, 14%), and cardiovascular diseases (n = 162, 10%). We observed 44% (n = 681) of local admissions either under observation (n = 53, 3%) or hospitalization (n = 380, 24%), limiting the need for hospital transfers. Program operation data revealed that 50% (n = 799) of requests were answered within two hours by the medical staff. The initial diagnosis was modified in 7% (n = 119) of the patients after being evaluated by specialists at the TelEmergency program. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the operational data collected during the first two years after the implementation of the TelEmergency program in Colombia, the first of its kind in the country. Its implementation offered specialized timely management of patients at the ER in low- and medium-level care hospitals, where there is no availability of specialized doctors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E Vallejo-Bocanumen
- Urgencies and Emergencies Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Carrera 51D #62 - 29, Office MUA 302, 050010, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Daniel Pérez-Martínez
- Urgencies and Emergencies Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Carrera 51D #62 - 29, Office MUA 302, 050010, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | - Juan F García-Cano
- Urgencies and Emergencies Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Carrera 51D #62 - 29, Office MUA 302, 050010, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Diana C Martínez-Pérez
- Urgencies and Emergencies Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Carrera 51D #62 - 29, Office MUA 302, 050010, Medellín, Colombia
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Sillcox R, Gitonga B, Meiklejohn DA, Wright AS, Oelschlager BK, Bryant MK, Tarefder R, Khan Z, Zhu J. The environmental impact of surgical telemedicine: life cycle assessment of virtual vs. in-person preoperative evaluations for benign foregut disease. Surg Endosc 2023:10.1007/s00464-023-10131-9. [PMID: 37237107 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-023-10131-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health care accounts for almost 10% of the United States' greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for a loss of 470,000 disability-adjusted life years based on the health effects of climate change. Telemedicine has the potential to decrease health care's carbon footprint by reducing patient travel and clinic-related emissions. At our institution, telemedicine visits for evaluation of benign foregut disease were implemented for patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to estimate the environmental impact of telemedicine usage for these clinic encounters. METHODS We used life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for an in-person and a telemedicine visit. For in-person visits, travel distances to clinic were retrospectively assessed from 2020 visits as a representative sample, and prospective data were gathered on materials and processes related to in-person clinic visits. Prospective data on the length of telemedicine encounters were collected and environmental impact was calculated for equipment and internet usage. Upper and lower bounds scenarios for emissions were generated for each type of visit. RESULTS For in-person visits, 145 patient travel distances were recorded with a median [IQR] distance travel distance of 29.5 [13.7, 85.1] miles resulting in 38.22-39.61 carbon dioxide equivalents (kgCO2-eq) emitted. For telemedicine visits, the mean (SD) visit time was 40.6 (17.1) min. Telemedicine GHG emissions ranged from 2.26 to 2.99 kgCO2-eq depending on the device used. An in-person visit resulted in 25 times more GHG emissions compared to a telemedicine visit (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Telemedicine has the potential to decrease health care's carbon footprint. Policy changes to facilitate telemedicine use are needed, as well as increased awareness of potential disparities of and barriers to telemedicine use. Moving toward telemedicine preoperative evaluations in appropriate surgical populations is a purposeful step toward actively addressing our role in health care's large carbon footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Sillcox
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, 1318 22nd St NW, Seattle, WA, 20037, USA.
| | - Baraka Gitonga
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, 1318 22nd St NW, Seattle, WA, 20037, USA
| | - Duncan A Meiklejohn
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Andrew S Wright
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, 1318 22nd St NW, Seattle, WA, 20037, USA
| | - Brant K Oelschlager
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, 1318 22nd St NW, Seattle, WA, 20037, USA
| | - Mary Kate Bryant
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, 1318 22nd St NW, Seattle, WA, 20037, USA
| | - Rafiqul Tarefder
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Zafrul Khan
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jay Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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14
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Cunha AS, Pedro AR, Cordeiro JV. Facilitators and barriers to access hospital medical specialty telemedicine consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res 2023. [PMID: 37262124 DOI: 10.2196/44188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transition in healthcare, which required a rapid adaptation of stakeholders. Telemedicine has emerged as an ideal tool to ensure continuity of care by allowing remote access to specialized medical services. However, its rapid implementation has exacerbated disparities in healthcare access, especially for the most vulnerable populations. OBJECTIVE To characterize the determinants factors (facilitators and barriers) of access to hospital medical specialty telemedicine consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic; to identify the main opportunities and challenges (technological, ethical, legal and/or social) generated by the use of telemedicine in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register) were searched for empirical studies published between January 3rd, 2020, and December 31st, 2021, using established criteria. The protocol of this review was registered and published in PROSPERO (CRD42022302825). A methodological quality assessment was performed, and results were integrated into a thematic synthesis. The identification of main opportunities and challenges was done by interpreting and aggregating the thematic synthesis results. RESULTS Of the 106 studies identified, 9 met the inclusion criteria and the intended quality characteristics. All studies were originally from the United States of America (USA). The following facilitating factors of telemedicine use were identified: health insurance coverage; prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection; access to Internet services; access to technological devices; better management of work-life balance; and savings in travel costs. We identified the following barriers to telemedicine use: lack of access to Internet services; lack of access to technological devices; racial and ethnic disparities; low digital literacy; low income; age; language barriers; health insurance coverage; concerns about data privacy and confidentiality; geographic disparities; and need for complementary diagnostic tests or for the delivery of test results. CONCLUSIONS The facilitating factors and barriers identified in this systematic review present different opportunities and challenges, including those of technological nature (access to technological devices and internet services, level of digital literacy), sociocultural and demographic nature (ethnic and racial disparities, geographical disparities, language barriers, age), socioeconomic nature (income level and health insurance coverage), and ethical and legal nature (data privacy and confidentiality). To expand telemedicine access to hospital-based specialty medical consultations and provide high-quality care to all, including the most vulnerable communities, the challenges identified must be thoroughly researched and addressed with informed and dedicated responses. CLINICALTRIAL
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Soraia Cunha
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, Avenida Padre Cruz, Lisbon, PT
| | - Ana Rita Pedro
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, Lisbon, PT
| | - João Valente Cordeiro
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, Lisbon, PT
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, Lisbon, PT
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15
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Hawkins AT, Ueland T, Aher C, Geiger TM, Spann MD, Horst SN, Schafer IV, Ye F, Fan R, Sharp KW. Shared Decision-Making in General Surgery: Prospective Comparison of Telemedicine vs In-Person Visits. J Am Coll Surg 2023; 236:762-771. [PMID: 36728391 DOI: 10.1097/xcs.0000000000000538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated a shift toward virtual telemedicine appointments with surgeons. While this form of healthcare delivery has potential benefits for both patients and surgeons, the quality of these interactions remains largely unstudied. We hypothesize that telemedicine visits are associated with lower quality of shared decision-making. STUDY DESIGN We performed a mixed-methods, prospective, observational cohort trial. All patients presenting for a first-time visit at general surgery clinics between May 2021 and June 2022 were included. Patients were categorized by type of visit: in-person vs telemedicine. The primary outcome was the level of shared decision-making as captured by top box scores of the CollaboRATE measure. Secondary outcomes included quality of shared decision-making as captured by the 9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire and satisfaction with consultation survey. An adjusted analysis was performed accounting for potential confounders. A qualitative analysis of open-ended questions for both patients and practitioners was performed. RESULTS During a 13-month study period, 387 patients were enrolled, of which 301 (77.8%) underwent in-person visits and 86 (22.2%) underwent telemedicine visits. The groups were similar in age, sex, employment, education, and generic quality-of-life scores. In an adjusted analysis, a visit type of telemedicine was not associated with either the CollaboRATE top box score (odds ratio 1.27; 95% CI 0.74 to 2.20) or 9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (β -0.60; p = 0.76). Similarly, there was no difference in other outcomes. Themes from qualitative patient and surgeon responses included physical presence, time investment, appropriateness for visit purpose, technical difficulties, and communication quality. CONCLUSIONS In this large, prospective study, there does not appear to be a difference in quality of shared decision making in patients undergoing in-person vs telemedicine appointments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Hawkins
- Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery (Hawkins, Ueland, Geiger, Schafer), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Thomas Ueland
- Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery (Hawkins, Ueland, Geiger, Schafer), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Chetan Aher
- From the Division of General Surgery (Aher, Spann, Sharp), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Timothy M Geiger
- Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery (Hawkins, Ueland, Geiger, Schafer), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Matthew D Spann
- From the Division of General Surgery (Aher, Spann, Sharp), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Sara N Horst
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (Horst), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Isabella V Schafer
- Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery (Hawkins, Ueland, Geiger, Schafer), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Fei Ye
- Biostatistics (Ye, Fan), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Run Fan
- Biostatistics (Ye, Fan), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Kenneth W Sharp
- From the Division of General Surgery (Aher, Spann, Sharp), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
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16
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Rosenlund M, Kinnunen UM, Saranto K. The Use of Digital Health Services Among Patients and Citizens Living at Home: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e44711. [PMID: 36972122 PMCID: PMC10131924 DOI: 10.2196/44711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of digital health services reflects not only the technical development of services but also a change in attitude and the way of thinking. It has become a cornerstone for engaging and activating patients and citizens in health management while living at home. Digital health services are also aimed at enhancing the efficiency and quality of services, while simultaneously providing services more cost-effectively. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated worldwide the development and use of digital services in response to requirements for social distancing and other regulations. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to identify and summarize how digital health services are being used among patients and citizens while living at home. METHODS The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews was used as guidance. A search conducted in 3 databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus) resulted in 419 papers. The reporting was conducted by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR), and the analysis of the included papers was performed using a framework consisting of 5 clusters describing the use of digital health services. After screening and excluding papers that did not match the inclusion criteria, 88 (21%) papers from 2010 to 2022 were included in the final analysis. RESULTS Results indicated that digital health services are used in different situations and among different kinds of populations. In most studies, digital health services were used in the form of video visits or consultations. The telephone was also used regularly for consultations. Other services, such as remote monitoring and transmitting of recorded information and the use the of internet or portals for searching information, were observed as well. Alerts, emergency systems, and reminders were observed to offer possibilities of use, for example, among older people. The digital health services also showed to have potential for use in patient education. CONCLUSIONS The development of digital services reflects a shift toward the provision of care regardless of time and place. It also reflects a shift toward emphasis on patient-centered care, meaning activating and engaging patients in their own care as they use digital services for various health-related purposes. Despite the development of digital services, many challenges (eg, adequate infrastructure) still prevail worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milla Rosenlund
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ulla-Mari Kinnunen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- The Finnish Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaija Saranto
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- The Finnish Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Helsinki, Finland
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17
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Scheer J, Areias AC, Molinos M, Janela D, Moulder R, Lains J, Bento V, Yanamadala V, Dias Correia F, Costa F. Engagement and Utilization of a Complete Remote Digital Care Program for Musculoskeletal Pain Management in Urban and Rural Areas Across the United States: Longitudinal Cohort Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2023; 11:e44316. [PMID: 36735933 PMCID: PMC10132051 DOI: 10.2196/44316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are the number one cause of disability worldwide. Digital care programs (DCPs) for MSK pain management have arisen as alternative care delivery models to circumvent challenges in accessibility of conventional therapy. Despite the potential of DCPs to reduce inequities in accessing care, the outcomes of such interventions in rural and urban populations have yet to be studied. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the impact of urban or rural residency on engagement and clinical outcomes after a multimodal DCP for MSK pain. METHODS This study consists of an ad hoc analysis of a decentralized single-arm investigation into engagement and clinical-related outcomes after a multimodal DCP in patients with MSK conditions. Patients were coded according to their zip codes to a specific rural-urban commuting area code and grouped into rural and urban cohorts. Changes in their engagement and clinical outcomes from baseline to program end were assessed. Latent growth curve analysis was performed to estimate change trajectories adjusting for the following covariates: age, gender, BMI, employment status, and pain acuity. Outcomes included engagement, self-reported pain, and the results of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scales. A minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of 30% was considered for pain. RESULTS Patients with urban and rural residency across the United States participated in the program (n=9992). A 73.8% (7378/9992) completion rate was observed. Both groups reported high satisfaction scores and similar engagement with exercise sessions, with rural residents showing higher engagement with educational content (P<.001) and higher program completion rates (P=.02). All groups showed a significant improvement in all clinical outcomes, including pain, mental health, and work productivity, without statistically significant intergroup differences. The percentage of patients meeting the MCID was similar in both groups (urban: 67.1%, rural: 68.3%; P=.30). CONCLUSIONS This study advocates for the utility of a DCP in improving access to MSK care in urban and rural areas alike, showcasing its potential to promote health equity. High engagement, satisfaction, and completion rates were noted in both groups, as well as significant improvements in clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04092946; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04092946.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Scheer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Robert Moulder
- Institute for Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Jorge Lains
- Rovisco Pais Medical and Rehabilitation Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Vijay Yanamadala
- Sword Health Inc, Draper, UT, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hartford Healthcare Medical Group, Westport, CT, United States
- Department of Surgery, Frank H Netter School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT, United States
| | - Fernando Dias Correia
- Sword Health Inc, Draper, UT, United States
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Sutton TL, Beneville B, Johnson AJ, Mayo SC, Gilbert EW, Lopez CD, Grossberg AJ, Rocha FG, Sheppard BC. Socioeconomic and Geographic Disparities in the Referral and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer at High-Volume Centers. JAMA Surg 2023; 158:284-291. [PMID: 36576819 PMCID: PMC9857629 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.6709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Importance Treatment at high-volume centers (HVCs) has been associated with improved overall survival (OS) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, it is unclear how patterns of referral affect these findings. Objective To understand the relative contributions of treatment site and selection bias in driving differences in outcomes in patients with PDAC and to characterize socioeconomic factors associated with referral to HVCs. Design, Setting, Participants A population-based retrospective review of the Oregon State Cancer Registry was performed from 1997 to 2019 with a median 4.3 months of follow-up. Study participants were all patients diagnosed with PDAC in Oregon from 1997 to 2018 (n = 8026). Exposures The primary exposures studied were diagnosis and treatment at HVCs (20 or more pancreatectomies for PDAC per year), low-volume centers ([LVCs] less than 20 per year), or both. Main Outcomes and Measures OS and treatment patterns (eg, receipt of chemotherapy and primary site surgery) were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis and logistic regression, respectively. Results Eight thousand twenty-six patients (male, 4142 [52%]; mean age, 71 years) were identified (n = 3419 locoregional, n = 4607 metastatic). Patients receiving first-course treatment at a combination of HVCs and LVCs demonstrated improved median OS for locoregional and metastatic disease (16.6 [95% CI, 15.3-17.9] and 6.1 [95% CI, 4.9-7.3] months, respectively) vs patients receiving HVC only (11.5 [95% CI, 10.7-12.3] and 3.9 [95% CI, 3.5-4.3] months, respectively) or LVC-only treatment (8.2 [95% CI, 7.7-8.7] and 2.1 [95% CI, 1.9-2.3] months, respectively; all P < .001). No differences existed in disease burden by volume status of diagnosing institution. When stratifying by site of diagnosis, HVC-associated improvements in median OS were smaller (locoregional: 10.4 [95% CI, 9.5-11.2] vs 9.9 [95% CI, 9.4-10.4] months; P = .03; metastatic: 3.6 vs 2.7 months, P < .001) than when stratifying by the volume status of treating centers, indicating selection bias during referral. A total of 94% (n = 1103) of patients diagnosed at an HVC received HVC treatment vs 18% (n = 985) of LVC diagnoses. Among patients diagnosed at LVCs, later year of diagnosis and higher estimated income were independently associated with higher odds of subsequent HVC treatment, while older age, metastatic disease, and farther distance from HVC were independently associated with lower odds. Conclusions and Relevance LVC-to-HVC referrals for PDAC experienced improved OS vs HVC- or LVC-only care. While disease-related features prompting referral may partially account for this finding, socioeconomic and geographic disparities in referral worsen OS for disadvantaged patients. Measures to improve access to HVCs are encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Sutton
- Oregon Heath & Science University, Department of Surgery, Portland
| | - Blake Beneville
- Oregon Heath & Science University, School of Medicine, Portland
| | | | - Skye C. Mayo
- Oregon Heath & Science University, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland
| | - Erin W. Gilbert
- Oregon Heath & Science University, Department of Surgery, Portland
| | - Charles D. Lopez
- Oregon Heath & Science University, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland
| | - Aaron J. Grossberg
- Oregon Heath & Science University, Department of Radiation Medicine, Portland
| | - Flavio G. Rocha
- Oregon Heath & Science University, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland
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19
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Baxter SN, Johnson AH, Brennan JC, Dolle SS, Turcotte JJ, King PJ. The Efficacy of Telemedicine Versus In-Person Education for High-Risk Patients Undergoing Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty 2023:S0883-5403(23)00015-3. [PMID: 36690187 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While multiple studies have demonstrated the positive impact of preoperative education on total joint arthroplasty (TJA) outcomes, the traditional method of conducting in-person individualized counseling or group education may limit access to these resources for a subset of the population. This study aimed to evaluate the use of preoperative telemedicine and in-person educational programs for primary TJA patients to determine if the utilization of telemedicine is inferior to in-person education in high-risk populations. METHODS A retrospective chart review of all "high-risk" patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA or THA by 1 of 10 board-certified surgeons at a single institution over 1 year was performed. Patients were prospectively classified as high-risk based on race/ethnicity, comorbidities, and socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. Demographics, comorbidities, and hospital outcomes were compared between patients receiving preoperative nurse navigator education via telemedicine versus those receiving face-to-face education. RESULTS When comparing the interventions, telemedicine education was noninferior to face-to-face visits. No significant differences between postoperative length of stay, discharge home, 30-day emergency department return, or 30-day readmission rates were noted. Within the telemedicine group, patients who received video consultations were found to be 6 times more likely to be discharged home after surgery (odds ratio (OR): 5.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.00 to 25.49; P = .004) and less likely to have a 30-day readmission than the phone consultations (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.94: P = .050). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that telemedicine is not inferior to in-person preoperative education for patients undergoing unilateral TJA, although video-based consultation may improve outcomes over phone-only education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha N Baxter
- Orthopedic Research Fellow, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Justin J Turcotte
- Orthopedic and Surgery Research, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, Maryland
| | - Paul J King
- Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, Maryland
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20
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de Barreto Aranha RL, de Castro Martins R, Paixão LC, de Abreu MHNG. Professional Factors Associated with Case Resolution without Referrals of Orofacial Pain Cases to Secondary Dental Care by Telehealth in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study in 2019 and 2020. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010029. [PMID: 36675978 PMCID: PMC9863102 DOI: 10.3390/life13010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify professional factors associated with case resolution without a referral of orofacial pain to secondary health care by Brazilian Primary Health Care (PHC) practitioners who demanded asynchronous teleconsulting, stratified by year, in 2019 and 2020 (the COVID-19 Pandemic burst). A cross-sectional study employed secondary databases from asynchronous teleconsulting Telehealth Brazil Networks from January 2019 to December 2020. The outcome was the dichotomous variable "If referral to secondary care was avoided." As covariates: sex, healthcare professions, and category of orofacial pain doubts. A negative binomial regression model estimated each covariate's unadjusted and adjusted PR (95%CI) and p values, stratified for 2019 and 2020. There was a difference in descriptive factors associated with case resolution without a referral from 2019 to 2020. Females prevailed in both years, and the total demand decreased to a third from 2019 to 2020. The rate of resoluteness decreased by 19.1%. In 2019, nurses (PR = 0.69 CI 95% 0.57-0.83) and other professionals (PR = 0.84 CI 95% 0.73-0.97) showed less frequency of case resolution without a referral than did general dentists. In 2020, oral-cavity-related doubts (PR = 1.18 CI 95% 1.06-1.32) and temporomandibular disorders (PR = 1.33 95% 1.15-1.54) surpassed other causes of orofacial pain in case resolution without a referral, and female professionals avoided referrals more frequently than men (PR = 1.24 CI 95% 1.21-1.38). In conclusion, in 2019, oral cavity doubts and the PHC profession influenced the case resolution. Female professionals and oral cavity doubts scored the higher case resolution without a referral for the service in 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renata de Castro Martins
- Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ligia Cristelli Paixão
- School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
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21
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Tong L, George B, Crotty BH, Somai M, Taylor BW, Osinski K, Luo J. Telemedicine and health disparities: Association between patient characteristics and telemedicine, in-person, telephone and message-based care during the COVID-19 pandemic. IPEM-TRANSLATION 2022; 3:100010. [PMID: 36340828 PMCID: PMC9617798 DOI: 10.1016/j.ipemt.2022.100010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Telemedicine has been an essential form of care since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, telemedicine may exacerbate disparities for populations with limited digital literacy or access, such as older adults, racial minorities, patients of low income, rural residences, or limited English proficiency. From March 2020 to March 2022, this retrospective cohort study analyzed the use of in-person, phone/message, and telemedical care at a single tertiary care center in an oncology department. We investigated the association between economic, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic factors and forms of care, including in-person visits, telemedicine-based visits, and telephone/messages. The study results show that telemedicine utilization is lower among patients 65 and older, female patients, American Indian or Alaska Native patients, uninsured patients, and patients who require interpreters during clinical visits. As a result, it is unlikely that telemedicine will provide equal access to clinical care for all populations. On the other hand, in-person care utilization remains low in low-income and rural-living patients compared to the general population, while telephone and message use remains high in low-income and rural-living patients. We conclude that telemedicine is currently unable to close the utilization gap for populations of low socioeconomic status. Patients with low socioeconomic status use in-person care less frequently. For the disadvantaged, unusually high telephone or message utilization is unlikely to provide the same quality as in-person or telemedical care. Understanding the causes of disparity and promoting a solution to improve equal access to care for all patients is critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Tong
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Health Informatics and Administration, United States
| | - Ben George
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, United States
| | - Bradley H Crotty
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin, United States
| | - Melek Somai
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin, United States
| | - Bradley W Taylor
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin, United States
| | - Kristen Osinski
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin, United States
| | - Jake Luo
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Health Informatics and Administration, United States
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22
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Scheer J, Costa F, Molinos M, Areias A, Janela D, Moulder RG, Lains J, Bento V, Yanamadala V, Cohen SP, Correia FD. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Outcomes of a 12-Week Digital Rehabilitation Program for Musculoskeletal Pain: Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e41306. [PMID: 36189963 PMCID: PMC9664333 DOI: 10.2196/41306] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain disproportionately affects people from different ethnic backgrounds through higher burden and less access to care. Digital care programs (DCPs) can improve access and help reduce inequities. However, the outcomes of such programs based on race and ethnicity have yet to be studied. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the impact of race and ethnicity on engagement and outcomes in a multimodal DCP for MSK pain. METHODS This was an ad hoc analysis of an ongoing decentralized single-arm investigation into engagement and clinical-related outcomes after a multimodal DCP in patients with MSK conditions. Patients were stratified by self-reported racial and ethnic group, and their engagement and outcome changes between baseline and 12 weeks were compared using latent growth curve analysis. Outcomes included program engagement (number of sessions), self-reported pain scores, likelihood of surgery, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment. A minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of 30% was calculated for pain, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate race as an independent predictor of meeting the MCID. RESULTS A total of 6949 patients completed the program: 65.5% (4554/6949) of them were non-Hispanic White, 10.8% (749/6949) were Black, 9.7% (673/6949) were Asian, 9.2% (636/6949) were Hispanic, and 4.8% (337/6949) were of other racial or ethnic backgrounds. The population studied was diverse and followed the proportions of the US population. All groups reported high engagement and satisfaction, with Hispanic and Black patients ranking first among satisfaction despite lower engagement. Black patients had a higher likelihood to drop out (odds ratio [OR] 1.19, 95% CI 1.01-1.40, P=.04) than non-Hispanic White patients. Hispanic and Black patients reported the highest level of pain, surgical intent, work productivity, and impairment in activities of daily living at baseline. All race groups showed a significant improvement in all outcomes, with Black and Hispanic patients reporting the greatest improvements in clinical outcomes. Hispanic patients also had the highest response rate for pain (75.8%) and a higher OR of meeting the pain MCID (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.24-2.45, P=.001), when compared with non-Hispanic White patients, independent of age, BMI, sex, therapy type, education level, and employment status. No differences in mental health outcomes were found between race and ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS This study advocates for the utility of a DCP in improving access to MSK care and promoting health equity. Engagement and satisfaction rates were high in all the groups. Black and Hispanic patients had higher MSK burden at baseline and lower engagement but also reported higher improvements, with Hispanic patients presenting a higher likelihood of pain improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Scheer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Dora Janela
- Sword Health, Inc, Draper, UT, United States
| | - Robert G Moulder
- Institute for Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Jorge Lains
- Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal
- Rovisco Pais Medical and Rehabilitation Centre, Tocha, Portugal
| | | | - Vijay Yanamadala
- Sword Health, Inc, Draper, UT, United States
- Department of Surgery, Frank H Netter School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hartford Healthcare Medical Group, Westport, CT, United States
| | - Steven P Cohen
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Fernando Dias Correia
- Sword Health, Inc, Draper, UT, United States
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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23
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Kamat S, Chennareddy S, D'Ovidio T, Han J, Encarnacion MRNF, Yang C, Silverberg N. Disparities in the Use of Teledermatology During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in a Pediatric Dermatology Practice. Telemed J E Health 2022; 29:744-750. [PMID: 36112352 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic required a rapid expansion of teledermatology services. Objective: Analyze demographic shifts in a pediatric dermatology practice session with children of color. Methods: A retrospective chart review of pediatric dermatology patients seen in the 4 practice weeks preceding the New York COVID-19 lockdown and comparable teledermatology visits during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Demographic differences (e.g., race, age, gender, and household income) were analyzed. Results: A greater proportion of patients seen were White during lockdown (59.7%), compared with pre-lockdown (43.6%), with a reduction in Asian patients seen in lockdown (6.0%) compared with pre-lockdown (24.5%). A lower proportion of no-show patients (4.3%, 3/70 scheduled) were noted in lockdown compared with pre-lockdown (16%, 18/112). Preferred provider organizations (PPO) and higher-income zip codes were more common for children seen during lockdown. Limitations: The sample addresses a limited New York pediatric dermatology practice during a short time period. Conclusions: White patients and patients with PPO were more likely to access telehealth, supporting disparity in teledermatology services. These results demonstrate reduced health care access for lower-income and Asian children during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Kamat
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sumanth Chennareddy
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tyler D'Ovidio
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph Han
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Connie Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nanette Silverberg
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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24
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Willis KD, Rao SR, Normen M, de Groot J, Calman L, Bahcivan O, Centeno I, Fehon DC. Same storm, different boat: The global impact of COVID-19 on palliative care. Psychooncology 2022; 32:148-154. [PMID: 35793431 PMCID: PMC9350379 DOI: 10.1002/pon.5995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic has had a complex and profound impact on the provision of palliative care globally. To support learning from palliative care providers and researchers worldwide, the Education Subcommittee of International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Palliative Care Special Interest Group developed a webinar with presentations by and discussion with eight international palliative care leaders. METHODS Presentations were content rich; the speakers used both quantitative (e.g., sharing recent statistical findings) and qualitative (e.g., narrative storytelling, anecdotal experiences) approaches to portray the effect of COVID-19 in their region. Subsequent to the webinar, the committee collectively identified five themes conveyed by the presenters through consensus. RESULTS The themes included: (1) altered accessibility to palliative care, with socio-economic status impacting virtual health availability; (2) reduced opportunities to preserve dignity, as survival has been prioritized over preserving the humanity of patients and their loved ones; (3) complicated grief and bereavement arising from social distancing requirements; (4) greater awareness of the importance of sustaining health provider well-being; and (5) the development of valuable innovations across nations, institutions, disciplines, and communities. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the webinar facilitated valuable connection for global learning and identified opportunities for research and clinical interventions. In an ongoing crisis that has exacerbated isolation, we will need to continue to learn and lean on one another as a global community to navigate ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelcie D. Willis
- Department of PsychologyVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA,Massey Cancer CenterVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Seema Rajesh Rao
- Department of Research & EducationBangalore Hospice Trust—KarunashrayaBangaloreIndia
| | - Michelle Normen
- Department of Research & EducationBangalore Hospice Trust—KarunashrayaBangaloreIndia
| | - Janet de Groot
- Departments of Psychiatry and OncologyCumming School of MedicineUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Lynn Calman
- School of Health SciencesCentre for Psychosocial Research in CancerUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Ozan Bahcivan
- Psiko‐Onkologlar Dernegi (Psycho‐Oncological Association)IzmirTurkiye,Ozel Oz Psikoloji Aile Danisma Merkezi (Oz Psychology Family Counselling Centre)IzmirTurkiye
| | - Isabel Centeno
- Breast Cancer CenterHospital Zambrano HellionMonterreyMexico
| | - Dwain C. Fehon
- Department of PsychiatryYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA,Smilow Cancer HospitalNew HavenConnecticutUSA
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25
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Aitken SJ, Allard B, Altaf N, Atkinson N, Aziz O, Battersby R, Benson R, Chambers JL, Charlton G, Coleman C, Dawson JA, Dean A, Dhal BS, Fitridge R, Gan J, Hanna J, Hattam AT, Hein M, Hon K, Khoo S, Kilby J, Kuang B, Leong KW, Lim E, Liu JWN, McClure DN, Mehta S, Moss JL, Muller J, Musicki K, Nandhra S, Papanikolas MJ, Pineda FP, Pond F, Ravintharan N, Richards T, Saeed H, Selvaraj CN, Singh G, Sivakumaran Y, Stavert BM, Suthers E, Tang R, Varley VC, Vasudevan TM, Vo UG, Wagner T, Wang J, Wong J. Frail patients having vascular surgery during the early COVID-19 pandemic experienced high rates of adverse perioperative events and amputation. ANZ J Surg 2022; 92:2305-2311. [PMID: 35674397 PMCID: PMC9347445 DOI: 10.1111/ans.17810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frailty predicts adverse perioperative outcomes and increased mortality in patients having vascular surgery. Frailty assessment is a potential tool to inform resource allocation, and shared decision-making about vascular surgery in the resource constrained COVID-19 pandemic environment. This cohort study describes the prevalence of frailty in patients having vascular surgery and the association between frailty, mortality and perioperative outcomes. METHODS The COVID-19 Vascular Service in Australia (COVER-AU) prospective cohort study evaluates 30-day and six-month outcomes for consecutive patients having vascular surgery in 11 Australian vascular units, March-July 2020. The primary outcome was mortality, with secondary outcomes procedure-related outcomes and hospital utilization. Frailty was assessed using the nine-point visual Clinical Frailty Score, scores of 5 or more considered frail. RESULTS Of the 917 patients enrolled, 203 were frail (22.1%). The 30 day and 6 month mortality was 2.0% (n = 20) and 5.9% (n = 35) respectively with no significant difference between frail and non-frail patients (OR 1.68, 95%CI 0.79-3.54). However, frail patients stayed longer in hospital, had more perioperative complications, and were more likely to be readmitted or have a reoperation when compared to non-frail patients. At 6 months, frail patients had twice the odds of major amputation compared to non-frail patients, after adjustment (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.17-3.78), driven by a high rate of amputation during the period of reduced surgical activity. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight that older, frail patients, experience potentially preventable adverse outcomes and there is a need for targeted interventions to optimize care, especially in times of healthcare stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah J Aitken
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Omar Aziz
- Nepean Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Ruth Benson
- Vascular and Endovascular Research Network, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Gan
- Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Kay Hon
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Samantha Khoo
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joseph Kilby
- University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Eunice Lim
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ju-Wei N Liu
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Shreya Mehta
- Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sandip Nandhra
- Vascular and Endovascular Research Network, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hani Saeed
- Western Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Uyen G Vo
- Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Judy Wang
- University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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26
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So H, Chow E, Cheng IT, Lau SL, Li TK, Szeto CC, Tam LS. Factors Associated With Use of Telemedicine for Follow-Up of SLE in the COVID-19 Outbreak. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:790652. [PMID: 34966764 PMCID: PMC8710609 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.790652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the factors associated with telemedicine (TM) use for follow-up of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) patients in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a single-centered cross-sectional study conducted in Hong Kong. Consecutive patients followed up at the lupus nephritis clinic were contacted for their preference in changing the coming consultation to TM in the form of videoconferencing. The demographic, socioeconomic, and disease data of the first 140 patients opted for TM and 140 control patients preferred to continue standard in-person follow-up were compared. Results: The mean age of all the participants was 45.6 ± 11.8 years, and the disease duration was 15.0 ± 9.2 years. The majority of them were on prednisolone (90.0%) and immunosuppressants (67.1%). The mean SLEDAI-2k was 3.4 ± 2.4, physician global assessment (PGA) was 0.46 ± 0.62 and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index was 0.97 ± 1.23. A significant proportion of the patients (72.1%) had 1 or more comorbidities. It was found that patients with higher mean PGA (TM: 0.54 ± 0.63 vs. control: 0.38 ± 0.59, p = 0.025) and family monthly income > USD 3,800 (TM: 36.4% vs. control: 23.6%; p = 0.028) preferred TM, while full-time employees (TM: 40.0% vs. control: 50.7%; p = 0.041) preferred in-person follow-up. These predictors remained significant in the multivariate analysis after adjusting for age and gender. No other clinical factors were found to be associated with the preference of TM follow-up. Conclusion: When choosing the mode of care delivery between TM and physical clinic visit for patients with SLE, the physician-assessed disease activity and patient's socio-economic status appeared to be important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho So
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Evelyn Chow
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Isaac T Cheng
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sze-Lok Lau
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tena K Li
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cheuk-Chun Szeto
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lai-Shan Tam
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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