Introduction
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has become increasingly popular in recent years. The convenience and accessibility of telehealth make it an appealing option for many. While telehealth has great potential to improve health equity, especially for those with chronic diseases, this is only possible if it is implemented properly. The challenge in ensuring that telehealth is benefitting everyone lies in varying technological skill levels.
Disparities in Telehealth
A study from the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association explored barriers to patients accessing medical portals. The researchers found that those with limited health literacy needed more assistance completing tasks, took more time to complete tasks and faced challenges with interpreting medical information. This suggests that providing patients with adequate training and support for utilizing telehealth tools is important to bridging gaps in knowledge.
According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, minority groups are significantly more likely to experience difficulties with accessing telehealth. This includes older, low-income, and non-English speaking adults, as well as those on Medicaid. The study involved conducting interviews with patients, providing insight into their perspective on challenges of telehealth. They emphasized that a lack of digital skills can impact every facet of people’s lives, contributing to contextual factors that play a role in health. Patients believed that the responsibility of addressing this divide lies with individuals, healthcare organizations, and the government. Although patients are acutely aware of the gap in technological skills, providers and policymakers need to take the steps to properly address it.
Chronic Disease Outcomes
Looking specifically at chronic diseases, a study from the International Journal of Cardiology Hypertension highlights that one of the major benefits of telehealth in chronic disease management is accessibility. For conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and more, increased interaction with the medical system is associated with better outcomes. Telehealth eliminates some of the barriers that limit access to traditional medical care, including transportation and mobility issues. This is especially beneficial for low-income populations, who may face more of these barriers and are less likely to be lost to follow up when they are able to take advantage of telehealth.
Research from Diabetes Care examined disparities in internet access among those with diabetes and hypertension compared to the general population. They found that the prevalence of internet use was lower amongst people with diabetes and hypertension, and that Black and Hispanic people had lower rates of internet access than White people. Given that Black and Hispanic populations have disproportionately higher rates of chronic diseases, these disparities are even more alarming. Having access to telehealth services and being able to understand healthcare information online is all the more important for people with chronic conditions. It can allow them to get the support and care they need without the need for constant in-person doctors’ visits.
Bridging the Gap
Addressing the disparities in telehealth and increasing equity requires interdisciplinary collaboration. Some steps to help people properly utilize telehealth include:
- Expanding public resources to allow more people internet access
- Considering patients’ needs and faculties to meet them where they are at, offering training and support whenever possible
- Formatting online health information to be accessible and understandable despite differing levels of health literacy
- Making online health platforms as user-friendly and straightforward as possible
Conclusion
Telehealth offers a promising alternative for the future of medicine. It makes people more likely to seek care through convenience and reducing certain barriers to healthcare access. With the right strategies, telehealth can bridge existing gaps in healthcare access, which is particularly important for those with chronic conditions. However, careful implementation is necessary to avoid exacerbating existing disparities. This requires providing underprivileged groups with the support they need to properly take advantage of telehealth.