Rural-urban differences in telehealth adoption among advanced practice registered nurses and their workplaces

Significant geographic disparities exist in telehealth utilization between rural and urban populations. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) play an increasingly important role in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural areas. Therefore, it is essential to understand telehealth adoption among APRNs and within their workplaces across these distinct geographic contexts.

To examine rural-urban differences in telehealth adoption among APRNs and within their workplaces in the United States.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. The study sample comprised all APRNs with active licensure and employed in their primary nursing position within the United States as of December 31, 2021. Two-level mixed-effects logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between telehealth adoption and rural-urban location at both the APRN and workplace levels.

Telehealth adoption was highly prevalent among both APRNs and their workplaces. Although rural workplaces had higher observed telehealth adoption, this difference was not statistically significant after accounting for state-level, organizational, and patient-level characteristics, as well as census region. There was also no statistically significant difference in telehealth adoption between rural and urban APRNs.

This cross-sectional study found a high prevalence of telehealth adoption among APRNs and within their workplaces, with comparable levels across rural and urban practice settings.