Rural Patients' Experiences with Synchronous Video Telehealth in the United States: A Scoping Review
Meghan Rowe Ferrara1, Susan A Chapman1
1Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Summary
Rural patients generally report positive telehealth experiences, but research quality varies. Future studies need validated measures and clear rurality definitions to improve understanding of telehealth access and outcomes for rural populations.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Digital Health
- Rural Health
Background:
- Telehealth is crucial for improving healthcare access in rural areas.
- Understanding rural patients' experiences with telehealth is essential for its effective implementation.
- Existing research on rural telehealth patient experiences requires comprehensive assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of how rural patients' telehealth experiences have been measured.
- To assess the existing body of research on rural telehealth patient experiences.
- To describe the reported experiences of rural patients using telehealth services.
Main Methods:
- Searched five databases for primary research reports from 2016-2022.
- Included studies on synchronous video telehealth with US rural adult patients.
- Utilized narrative synthesis and the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies tool.
Main Results:
- 24 studies met inclusion criteria; most used non-validated questionnaires for assessment.
- Quantitative outcomes included satisfaction, care characteristics, rapport, technology, and access.
- Qualitative themes highlighted telehealth benefits, facilitators, barriers, and drawbacks.
Conclusions:
- Current research suggests positive rural patient experiences with telehealth.
- Study limitations, including non-validated measures and unclear rurality definitions, affect generalizability.
- Future research should employ validated instruments and standardized definitions of rurality.
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