The association between telehealth service utilization and healthcare services during the pandemic: evidence from a national survey of American patients.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the association between telehealth service utilization and healthcare services during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach: This is a cross-sectional study. Secondary data, the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS; n = 4,709), were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including hierarchical multivariate regression.

Findings: The national telehealth utilization rate was 43%. Of the seven health service factors (HSF), four factors (literacy, perceived racial discrimination, care delay and care frequency) were associated with telehealth utilization in statistical tests for group comparisons. However, only care delay and care frequency were found to be significant in regression while controlling for demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity and education). Technological (Internet access) and geographical factors (the Midwest region) were also found to be associated with telehealth utilization.

Research limitations/implications: Health literacy was assessed using a single item in the study. Our study did not account for the effect that the level of broadband access might have on telehealth utilization. Our findings are limited to adult patients who received care at least once in the past year. Our study did not investigate the reasons for utilizing telehealth services or their capacity to access them. Future studies need to investigate those areas further.

Practical implications: The 43% national telehealth utilization prevalence rate suggests that significant numbers of American patients are now utilizing telehealth services. Only certain HSFs (delay in seeking medical care and care frequency) were found to be significant in predicting the utilization of telehealth services, suggesting that healthcare executives may want to carefully consider evaluating which specific HSFs would be beneficial for their medical communities by utilizing telehealth services.

Originality/value: Results suggested that significant numbers of American patients utilized telehealth services (43%) during the pandemic. Multivariate regression results presented evidence that not all, but only certain HSFs were found to be associated with telehealth utilization. Specifically, compared to non-telehealth utilizers, telehealth utilizers were more likely to be frequent-visit patients and delayed in seeking medical care.