Associations between language, telehealth, and clinical outcomes in patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a surge in telehealth utilization. However, language barriers have emerged as a potential obstacle to effective telemedicine engagement, impacting millions of limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. Understanding the role of language spoken in telehealth outcomes is critical, particularly in cancer care, in which consistent follow-up and communication are vital. The primary objective was to assess the impact of telehealth utilization and primary language spoken on clinical outcomes in cancer patients.

Methods

This study utilized a retrospective cohort design, encompassing cancer patients seen at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. The study incorporated both in-person and te

SUBMITTER: Azizi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11419674 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature