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Sociodemographic factors affecting telemedicine access: A population-based analysis.
Chagpar, Anees B.
  • Chagpar AB; Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: anees.chagpar@yale.edu.
Surgery ; 171(3): 793-798, 2022 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1537090
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic prompted a surge in telemedicine, with the presumption that patients had computer and internet access. We sought to determine, in a population-based sample, how many Americans were using computers and the internet before the pandemic, and whether disparities existed in this.

METHODS:

The National Health Interview Survey is conducted annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is representative of the entire United States civilian non-institutionalized population. In 2018, questions were fielded regarding computer and web utilization. We evaluated sociodemographic factors associated with this.

RESULTS:

Twenty-five thousand and forty-nine people, representing 245,842,992 in the population, responded to these questions. Of the responses, 19% stated they used a computer "never or almost never," 18% stated they did not use the internet, and 25% did not use email. Over the previous 12 months, 55% of responders stated they had looked up health information on the internet, 11% had filled a prescription online, 16% had scheduled a medical appointment on the internet, and 17% had communicated with a healthcare provider by email. Internet usage varied by region, age, race, education, family income, and insurance status, but not by gender.

CONCLUSION:

As telemedicine becomes more prevalent, sociodemographic factors limiting computer and internet use may disadvantage certain segments of the population.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / Healthcare Disparities / Sociodemographic Factors / Health Services Accessibility Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Language: English Journal: Surgery Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / Healthcare Disparities / Sociodemographic Factors / Health Services Accessibility Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged / Young adult Language: English Journal: Surgery Year: 2022 Document Type: Article