Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
05:35
A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
Published on: January 19, 2024
Telehealth and Mammogram Receipt in Urban and Rural Women: Quasi-Experimental and Spatial Analyses
Namrata Sanjeevi1, Peter Maier1, Sarah Catherine Minnich1
1Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA.
Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|June 11, 2026
Summary
Telehealth use significantly increased mammogram receipt for rural women, unlike urban women. Concurrent telehealth and mammography use grew in both settings, but more concentrated in urban areas and dispersed in rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Access
- Public Health
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Rural populations often face greater barriers to healthcare access.
- Mammography screening is crucial for early breast cancer detection.
- Telehealth adoption has accelerated, necessitating an understanding of its impact on preventive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between telehealth utilization and mammogram receipt, considering rurality.
- To map geographic patterns of simultaneous increases in telehealth and mammography use in urban and rural areas.
Main Methods:
- Difference-in-difference (DiD) analysis comparing women with and without telehealth use post-pandemic.
- Spatial analysis of ZIP Codes with increased telehealth and mammography utilization (2018-2022).
- Inclusion of women aged 50+ from primary care or gynecology practices (2018-2023).
Main Results:
- Telehealth use was associated with higher mammogram receipt probability in rural women, but not urban women.
- Simultaneous growth in telehealth and mammography occurred in both urban and rural settings.
- Urban areas showed concentrated patterns of increased use, while rural areas displayed more dispersed patterns.
Conclusions:
- Telehealth shows particular promise for enhancing mammography screening among rural individuals facing access barriers.
- Urban areas may see clustered benefits from integrated care systems, while rural areas can achieve broader access expansion.
- Telehealth can help overcome geographic distances, improving preventive care delivery in underserved regions.
