Equity in virtual care: A mixed methods study of perspectives from physicians

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health Equity
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual care, raising concerns about its impact on healthcare disparities.
• Subgroups like racial and ethnic minorities, older adults, and lower-income households face challenges accessing virtual care due to disparities in technology access and adoption.
• Primary care providers' perspectives are crucial for understanding and addressing inequities in virtual care implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore primary care physician experiences and perceptions of barriers and facilitators to equitable virtual care.
• To identify how virtual care impacts healthcare access for diverse patient populations.

Main Methods:

• An explanatory sequential mixed methods study involving surveys and semi-structured interviews with primary care physicians.
• Quantitative survey data on virtual visit frequency, preferences, and technology sufficiency were collected.
• Qualitative interviews focused on physicians' experiences with virtual care equity for specific patient subpopulations.

Main Results:

• Physicians reported observing equity issues related to virtual care access for various patient groups.
• Virtual care was found to both increase and decrease healthcare access for different populations.
• Patients with limited English proficiency experienced particularly significant inequities in virtual care access.

Conclusions:

• Further research and targeted interventions are necessary to enhance patient portal access for individuals with limited English proficiency.
• Health system interventions should aim to expand virtual care access without increasing patient burden.