Telehealth Research and Innovation for Veterans with Cancer: the THRIVE Center

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Oncology
• Health Equity

Background:

• Telehealth use has surged in the US healthcare system, improving access and quality but risking exacerbated disparities.
• The Telehealth Research and Innovation for Veterans with Cancer (THRIVE) center addresses health equity in telehealth cancer care.
• Key social determinants of telehealth, including race, ethnicity, poverty, and rurality, are being investigated for their impact on care access and quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand how social determinants affect telehealth utilization in cancer care.
• To promote health equity in telehealth-delivered cancer care for veterans.
• To identify and evaluate the impact of social determinants on equity in cancer care.

Main Methods:

• The THRIVE center utilizes the Health Disparities Research Framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.
• It comprises an Administrative Core, Research and Methods Core, Clinical Practice Network, and Pragmatic Trial.
• Synergistic core functions assess and understand health equity in telehealth cancer care.

Main Results:

• As of October 2023, 5 THRIVE scholars were trained, and 6 pilot studies were funded out of 20 reviewed.
• Study designs and analytic approaches have been adjusted based on funder and advisory board feedback, ensuring feasibility.
• Operational partners' needs are being addressed through adaptive research strategies.

Conclusions:

• The Veterans Health Administration's diverse system and access to pre-pandemic longitudinal telehealth data provide unique research advantages.
• THRIVE is well-positioned to isolate and evaluate the impact of social determinants on telehealth equity in cancer care.
• Ensuring equitable access to high-quality cancer care for all veterans is a core mission objective being advanced by THRIVE.