Impact of Transportation Barriers on Telehealth Use During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Datos Bibliográficos

ID13775696
AutoresJaewhan Kim (0000-0002-8147-1159, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, autor de correspondencia), Joshua Kelley (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA), Seokjun Choi (Kosin University, Busan, South Korea), Peter Weir (0000-0003-3111-7829, University of Utah Medical Group Population Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA)
Año2024
Volumen61
Páginas469580241266345-469580241266345
Fecha de publicación2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaINQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0046-9580 • E-ISSN: 1945-7243
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00469580241266345
PMID39129323
OpenAlexW4401524865
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas16

Telehealth use among individuals with and without transportation challenges remains understudied. This study aims to compare telehealth utilization and types of healthcare services between subjects with and without transportation challenges. Using data from the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), we identified telehealth use for office visits by adults (≥18 years old) in 2021, categorizing the type of healthcare services received, such as checkups and mental health counseling. Weighted logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with telehealth usage. The total population analyzed was 204 621 985 (unweighted n = 17 674). The average (SD) age of the subjects was 49 (18) years old, and 53% were female. On average, individuals with transportation challenges had 1.40 telehealth visits, while those without such challenges had 0.87 visits ( P = .03). Additionally, individuals with transportation challenges had more visits related to behavioral health compared to those without transportation challenges (22% vs 11%, P P = .01). The findings suggest that telehealth could serve as a viable solution to overcome transportation barriers and improve access to care. However, it is crucial to assess access to care through telehealth to enhance the health outcomes for individuals facing transportation challenges

Business · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Health insurance · Logistic regression · Medical emergency · Medical Expenditure Panel Survey · Pandemic · Political science · Population · Telehealth · Telemedicine · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · Medicine · Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare · Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation