Disparities in telephone and video telehealth engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent expansion of telehealth may be exacerbating inequities in ambulatory care access due to institutional and structural barriers. We conduct a repeat cross-sectional analysis of ambulatory patients to evaluate for demographic disparities in the utilization of telehealth modalities.

Materials and methods

The ambulatory patient population at Oregon Health & Science University (Portland, OR, USA) is examined from June 1 through September 30, in 2019 (reference period) and in 2020 (study period). We first assess for changes in demographic representation and then evaluate for disparities in the utilization of telephone and video care modalities using logistic regression.

Results

Between the 2019 and 2020 periods, patient video ut

SUBMITTER: Sachs JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8496485 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature