Patient Characteristics and Telemedicine Use in the US, 2022

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Health Equity

Background:

• Telemedicine adoption surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, altering healthcare access.
• Concerns exist regarding equitable access to telemedicine for disadvantaged populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine patient characteristics associated with telemedicine use and mode.
• To describe patient experiences with telemedicine based on visit mode.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey data.
• Included US adults with a healthcare visit; analyzed May-September 2023.
• Multivariable logistic models assessed predictors of telemedicine use and mode; bivariate analyses compared experiences.

Main Results:

• 43% of 5437 adults used telemedicine; 70% of these were video visits.
• Older age, no internet, and Midwest residence were linked to lower telemedicine use.
• Female sex, chronic conditions, and multiple visits correlated with higher telemedicine use.
• Older age, no insurance, and no internet use were linked to audio-only visits.
• No significant differences in use or mode were found by education, race, ethnicity, or income.
• Audio-only users reported more privacy concerns than video users (20% vs 12%).

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine is a valued patient care option, even when in-person visits are available.
• Findings suggest telemedicine access is not disproportionately poorer among disadvantaged groups.
• Continued monitoring is crucial to ensure equitable access to evolving healthcare innovations.