Dataset Information

Midwest rural-urban disparities in use of patient online services for COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Rural populations are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We characterized urban-rural disparities in patient portal messaging utilization for COVID-19, and, of those who used the portal during its early stage in the Midwest.

Methods

We collected over 1 million portal messages generated by midwestern Mayo Clinic patients from February to August 2020. We analyzed patient-generated messages (PGMs) on COVID-19 by urban-rural locality and incorporated patients' sociodemographic factors into the analysis.

Findings

The urban-rural ratio of portal users, message senders, and COVID-19 message senders was 1.18, 1.31, and 1.79, indicating greater use among urban patients. The urban-rural ratio (1.69) of PGMs on COVID-19 was higher than that (1.43) of general PGMs. The urban-rural ratios of messaging were 1.72-1.85 for COVID-19-related care and 1.43-1.66 for other health care issues on COVID-19. Compared with urban patients, rural patients sent fewer messages for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment but more messages for other reasons related to COVID-19-related health care (eg, isolation and anxiety). The frequent senders of COVID-19-related messages among rural patients were 40+ years old, women, married, and White.

Conclusions

In this Midwest health system, rural patients were less likely to use patient online services during a pandemic and their reasons for its use differ from urban patients. Results suggest opportunities for increasing equity in rural patient engagement in patient portals (in particular, minority populations) for COVID-19. Public health intervention strategies could target reasons why rural patients might seek health care in a pandemic, such as social isolation and anxiety.

SUBMITTER: Huang M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9115171 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Midwest rural-urban disparities in use of patient online services for COVID-19.

Huang Ming M Wen Andrew A He Huan H Wang Liwei L Liu Sijia S Wang Yanshan Y Zong Nansu N Yu Yue Y Prigge Julie E JE Costello Brian A BA Shah Nilay D ND Ting Henry H HH Doubeni Chyke C Fan Jung-Wei JW Liu Hongfang H Patten Christi A CA

The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association 20220308 4

<h4>Purpose</h4>Rural populations are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We characterized urban-rural disparities in patient portal messaging utilization for COVID-19, and, of those who used the portal during its early stage in the Midwest.<h4>Methods</h4>We collected over 1 million portal messages generated by midwestern Mayo Clinic patients from February to August 2020. We analyzed patient-generated messages (PGMs) on COVID-19 by urban-rural locality and incorporated patient ...[more]

PMID: 35261092

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Dataset Information

Midwest rural-urban disparities in use of patient online services for COVID-19.

Purpose

Methods

Findings

Conclusions

Publications

Midwest rural-urban disparities in use of patient online services for COVID-19.

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