Gideon Loevinsohn, Yizhou Cui, Lee H Schwamm, Kori S Zachrison
{"title":"Disparities in patient experience with video and audio-only virtual care.","authors":"Gideon Loevinsohn, Yizhou Cui, Lee H Schwamm, Kori S Zachrison","doi":"10.1177/1357633X251372682","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1357633X251372682","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IntroductionThe rapid expansion of virtual ambulatory care has included both video and audio-only modalities. The impact of visit modality on patient experience is poorly understood, particularly in the interplay with social health determinants and technical aspects of virtual care. We sought to characterize differences in the patient-reported experience of virtual care between video and audio-only modalities, and to understand drivers of these differences.MethodsWe analyzed one year of ambulatory virtual visits with linked patient experience data from a US health system. Using nested logistic models, with a patient's likelihood to recommend the provider as the primary outcome, adjusting for patient- and physician-level covariates, we explored differences in experience by visit modality (video vs audio-only), including across demographic groups. We further assessed the impact of modality on patients' experience with technical aspects of virtual care.ResultsAmong 90,670 virtual encounters with patient experience data, 16% were audio-only. Compared with video-based encounters, audio-only visits were associated with lower likelihood to recommend overall (OR 0.75; 95%CI 0.70-0.80) and worse experience with many technical aspects. Black patients were more likely to have audio-only encounters and worse overall patient experience. This disparity persisted after adjusting for visit modality and was partly mediated by differences in perceived respectful provider communication and associated interpersonal aspects of care.DiscussionAudio-only virtual care remains central to ensuring access to care, but poses challenges for patient experience. Interventions and investments targeted at improving technical facets and provider communication are needed, particularly for ensuring equitable experience across racial groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"551-559"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12989182/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145016600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mark A Glover, Kendall E Bradley, Peter M Casey, Chad Cook, Emily K Reinke, Emily N Vinson, Richard C Mather, Jonathan Riboh, Tally Lassiter, Jocelyn R Wittstein
{"title":"Telehealth physical examinations show comparable accuracy and results to clinical exams for MRI confirmed shoulder pathologies.","authors":"Mark A Glover, Kendall E Bradley, Peter M Casey, Chad Cook, Emily K Reinke, Emily N Vinson, Richard C Mather, Jonathan Riboh, Tally Lassiter, Jocelyn R Wittstein","doi":"10.1177/1357633X251375155","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1357633X251375155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IntroductionThe purpose of this study is to measure the comparative diagnostic accuracy of telehealth diagnostic examinations for pathologies of the shoulder against an in-person examination. The telehealth examinations were hypothesized to be non-inferior to in-person examinations for accuracy and to demonstrate fair to moderate agreement. This is an expanded study of a data set included in a prior publication.MethodsPatients underwent in-person standardized clinical examination (SCE) and standardized telehealth examination (STE) during the same visit by two different providers in randomized order. Tests were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, agreement, and diagnostic accuracy using a nonarthrographic shoulder MRI as a reference standard, and divided into tests for rotator cuff tears (RCTs), glenohumeral arthritis (GHA), and acromioclavicular (AC) joint arthropathy. A pooled diagnostic accuracy was created for SCE and STE and directly compared using a Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test.ResultsSixty-two patients, average age of 57.9 years (±11.2), with 60 patients obtaining an MRI, were included in this study. There were no significant differences in the pooled diagnostic accuracy of identifying RCT, GHA, or AC arthropathy between SCE and STE (<i>P</i> = .495, .469, .333, respectively). The highest agreement between SCE and STE was observed for the shoulder shrug test, night pain, and internal rotation limitation for identifying RCT.DiscussionSTE demonstrated non-inferior pooled diagnostic accuracy in comparison to SCE for full-thickness RCT, GHA, and AC joint arthropathy. Secondarily, there was moderate to substantial agreement for selective tests, with a considerable portion ranging from fair to substantial agreement.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"522-531"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alper Ceylan, Eren Baskan, Israfil Inanc, Devrim Can Sarac, Ayten Ozkan, Nur Banu Karaca, Dilek Solmaz, Sercan Gucenmez, Servet Akar, Deniz Bayraktar
{"title":"Effects of the remote video-based SARAH program in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled single-blinded study.","authors":"Alper Ceylan, Eren Baskan, Israfil Inanc, Devrim Can Sarac, Ayten Ozkan, Nur Banu Karaca, Dilek Solmaz, Sercan Gucenmez, Servet Akar, Deniz Bayraktar","doi":"10.1177/1357633X251372681","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1357633X251372681","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IntroductionTo investigate the effectiveness of the remote video-based Strengthening and Stretching for Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand (SARAH) exercise program in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with wrist involvement.MethodsSeventy-three individuals were included in the study. Wrist joint position sense, wrist joint range of motion, wrist pain, wrist morning stiffness, subjective and objective hand function, grip strength, and disease-related health status were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Following the baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned into two groups as SARAH and Control. All participants maintained their pharmacological therapy. The SARAH group received SARAH exercise videos via a free messaging platform (WhatsApp Messenger) weekly and performed the program daily for 12 weeks. No additional intervention was provided to the control group.ResultsForty-nine individuals (SARAH group = 28, control group = 21) completed all study procedures. Both per-protocol and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses showed significant improvements in all parameters in the SARAH group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while no statistically significant changes were detected in the control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). When the changes were compared between the groups, SARAH group showed greater improvements regarding the changes in wrist joint position sense, wrist flexion, extension (only in ITT analysis) and radial deviation joint range of motion, wrist pain, wrist morning stiffness duration (only in ITT analysis), hand function, grip strength, and disease-related health status compared to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05).DiscussionA 12-week remote video-based SARAH exercise program provides additional benefits in individuals with RA who present wrist related problems when added to pharmacological therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"511-521"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145016570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Courtney Langille, Todd Dow, Panthea Pouramin, Brendan Grue, Margaret Wheelock
{"title":"Telemedicine for triage: A systematic review of virtual consultation in hand trauma.","authors":"Courtney Langille, Todd Dow, Panthea Pouramin, Brendan Grue, Margaret Wheelock","doi":"10.1177/1357633X251384890","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1357633X251384890","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IntroductionTelemedicine involves the use of electronic communication systems to exchange medical information between health professionals or with patients. With the increasing demand for telemedicine delivery, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to investigate the use of telemedicine within the field of hand surgery. The aim of this study is to present the current state of telemedicine use in hand trauma, with a particular focus on accuracy of diagnosis, cost effectiveness, and access to care.MethodsAn online systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pubmed and The Cochrane Library from inception to 16 May 2025 was completed. Data extracted included telemedicine medium used, accuracy of diagnosis, cost, impact on patient transfer volume, and timeline for assessment. Study quality was assessed using the MINORS scale.ResultsOf the 15 included studies, eight assessed diagnostic accuracy, four evaluated cost savings, four examined patient transfers, five reported on efficiency, and three investigated access to care. All studies assessing accuracy found telemedicine to be an accurate method of triaging and diagnosing patients. All studies assessing cost-effectiveness found telemedicine to be an effective cost-savings instrument. Telemedicine was also demonstrated to improve healthcare efficiency by decreasing the number of unnecessary patient transfers, reducing extra visits and unnecessary consultations and improve access to specialist care for patients in rural communities.ConclusionsThe current literature suggests that the application of telemedicine in initial hand trauma consultation was found appears satisfactory diagnostic accuracy, cost savings, reduced patient transfers, increased efficiency, and improved access to care when compared to traditional face-to-face triaging and diagnosis of hand traumas although evidence is largely observational.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"493-501"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145745635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Embodied care at a distance: How virtual consultations reshape bodily presence and trust in cancer rehabilitation in women with breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ.","authors":"Stine Thestrup Hansen, Jeanette Weise, Malene Beck","doi":"10.1177/1357633X261461835","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1357633X261461835","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IntroductionVirtual consultations are increasingly being used in cancer rehabilitation, yet little is known about how the virtual consultation format shapes patients' sense of embodied presence and relational care. This study explores how women diagnosed with breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ experience rehabilitative virtual consultations with nurses and focuses on how virtual consultations influence bodily presence, body modalities, and relational interaction.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured telephone interviews with fourteen women who had participated in a nurse-led rehabilitative virtual consultation one year after treatment. Using Braun and Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis, we analysed the data with particular attention to how digital mediation reconfigured embodied presence and relational care.ResultsAcross the dataset, virtual consultations were experienced as altering body modalities and reducing embodied presence when bodily matters were addressed on-screen. Patients experienced vulnerability associated with the absence of physical co-presence and touch but also highlighted how the home environment created a sense of calm and safety. The analysis generated one overarching theme, <i>The Body's Vulnerabilities in the Virtual Space</i>, with four subthemes showing how virtual consultations continuously shifted between connection and disconnection, and how familiarity with the nurse supported relational grounding.DiscussionThe findings demonstrate that virtual consultations reconfigure embodied presence in cancer rehabilitation, which requires patients and nurses to negotiate new body modalities shaped by technology and by the environments from which they participate in the virtual consultation. These dynamics influence vulnerability, trust, and relational care, which underscores the need for digital health practices that recognize spatial embodiment and actively support embodied engagement at a distance.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"1357633X261461835"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148354577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claire M Petchler, Elaina Parrillo, Marlena C Fisher, Suratsawadee Kruahong, Rebecca J Wright, Katherine A Ornstein, Martha Abshire Saylor
{"title":"A systematic review and meta-synthesis examining the relationship between virtual communication and mental health outcomes of family members of intensive care unit patients.","authors":"Claire M Petchler, Elaina Parrillo, Marlena C Fisher, Suratsawadee Kruahong, Rebecca J Wright, Katherine A Ornstein, Martha Abshire Saylor","doi":"10.1177/1357633X261461841","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1357633X261461841","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IntroductionEffective communication between family members, intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and healthcare providers is essential for easing family member's distress. We sought to understand how virtual communication patterns between family members, ICU patients, and healthcare providers are related to the mental health outcomes of family members.MethodsWe systematically searched CINAHL and PubMed for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2015 and August 2024 that documented virtual communication with the family member of an adult ICU patient (e.g., phone calls, video calls) and used the family member's mental health as an outcome. Guided by the adapted Source, Channel, Message, Receiver, Outcome Model of Communication, quantitative mental health outcomes were categorized as \"improved, neutral, or negative,\" and qualitative study findings were synthesized into themes.ResultsAmong 2,573 articles initially identified, 21 were selected for review. Phone and video calls were the most common communication modalities, and text messages were uncommon. Measured mental health outcomes included anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and stress or distress. Virtual communication was associated with either improved or no difference in measured mental health outcomes. However, meta-synthesis revealed two themes that suggest ways virtual communication can negatively influence emotions: (1) anxiety with variations in communication source, message, and frequency and (2) reassurance versus distress with communication modality.DiscussionPromoting communication through virtual communication strategies may improve mental health outcomes or emotions experienced among family members of ICU patients. ICU healthcare providers should consider tailoring virtual communication modality and frequency to family members' preferences.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"1357633X261461841"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148354621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giulianna Ornellas, Mariana Vercesi de Albuquerque, Soraia de Camargo Catapan
{"title":"Can digital navigators help reduce inequities in healthcare? A systematic review.","authors":"Giulianna Ornellas, Mariana Vercesi de Albuquerque, Soraia de Camargo Catapan","doi":"10.1177/1357633X261457758","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X261457758","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundNavigating the healthcare system is complex. Care fragmentation is a major issue. Patient navigators have emerged to improve care continuity, especially for vulnerable individuals. With digital health expansion, digital navigator (DN) roles have been created to foster digital literacy, access and equity.ObjectivesTo identify DN's roles in reducing health inequities and examine its terminology, professional background, training, techniques, skills, communication methods and outcomes.MethodologySystematic review across five databases. Data extraction included DN characteristics and outcomes. Thematic analysis compared expectations and findings.ResultsSixteen studies were reviewed. Findings suggest that the DN may help reducing inequities in healthcare access, though it is not guaranteed. Gaps were found in DN roles, competencies, training and terminology. Most studies emphasised technical support, communication and clinical integration, with limited focus on social issues. Disparities were noted between expected and reported roles.ConclusionThe DN role shows promise, especially in fragmented systems, but remains underexplored. Current approaches emphasise technology over social support. Broader understanding and implementation are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"1357633X261457758"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148303849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jared Silberlust, Brian Roberts, Victoria Leybov, Alexander Tran, Nicholas Genes
{"title":"Addressing high-utilizers of virtual urgent care through an EHR clinical decision support nudge.","authors":"Jared Silberlust, Brian Roberts, Victoria Leybov, Alexander Tran, Nicholas Genes","doi":"10.1177/1357633X261457773","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X261457773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Virtual urgent care (VUC) has become an increasingly utilized resource for acute care delivery. Frequent utilization of VUC may reflect unmet longitudinal care needs and contribute to fragmented care. While high-utilizer patterns are well described in emergency departments, they have not been systematically characterized in telemedicine. We evaluated a clinical decision support (CDS) nudge designed to identify and address high utilizers of VUC at a large academic health system. An electronic health record alert triggered when patients met predefined high-utilizer criteria (>3 visits in 30 days, >12 in six months, or >20 in 12 months) and prompted providers to document a structured follow-up plan using a SmartPhrase. Among 473 eligible patients, 162 (34%) received the SmartPhrase. After adjustment for baseline utilization using negative binomial regression, SmartPhrase use was associated with a 22% relative reduction in VUC visits over the subsequent 30 days (incidence rate ratio 0.78, <i>p</i> = .03). Bootstrapped analyses confirmed a significant reduction in the SmartPhrase group (-1.47 visits; 95% CI [-2.19 to -0.62]), while no significant change occurred in the comparison group. These findings suggest that a low-cost, workflow-integrated CDS nudge may reduce short-term telehealth overutilization by prompting structured follow-up discussions and encouraging longitudinal care planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"1357633X261457773"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148273637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caroline Gray, Barbara Lerner, Jacqueline Egelfeld, Jada Robinson, Tracy Urech, Anita Vashi
{"title":"Remote triage and virtual urgent care services: A qualitative assessment of factors that impact triage decisions and outcomes.","authors":"Caroline Gray, Barbara Lerner, Jacqueline Egelfeld, Jada Robinson, Tracy Urech, Anita Vashi","doi":"10.1177/1357633X261456148","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1357633X261456148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundRemote nurse triage services are increasingly delivered through call centers to manage demand for urgent and unscheduled care. These encounters typically rely on decision-support tools, but safe and efficient outcomes also depend on how nurses interpret patient information and make decisions about the most appropriate level of care. Despite the growth of tele-triage, nurse decision-making in this context remains underexplored.ObjectiveTo examine factors shaping triage decisions and outcomes in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) national tele-triage and urgent care program.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 39 participants, including triage nurses, nurse managers, and virtual urgent care providers, across six VA regions. Interviews explored decision-making processes, perceived challenges, and coordination between nurses and providers. Transcripts were coded and analyzed thematically.ResultsFour categories of factors influenced triage decisions: (1) technology-decision-support tools structured encounters but were limited by usability issues and risk-averse design; (2) professional training and judgment-nurses varied in critical thinking and remote assessment skills; (3) organizational priorities-policies emphasizing safety and liability restricted decision-making discretion; and (4) patient factors-preferences, beliefs, and situational constraints shaped acceptance of virtual care. Participants described tensions between efficiency and safety, and providers thought some Veterans' symptoms were more appropriately treated through primary care, reflecting institutional pressures.ConclusionsVA's tele-triage process is shaped by decision-support tools, nurse expertise, organizational priorities, and patient preferences. Algorithms provide structure, but effective triage depends on nurses' ability to interpret recommendations in context. As call center-based tele-triage expands, ensuring technology supports rather than constrains clinician judgment will be essential for safe, efficient, and patient-centered care.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"1357633X261456148"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13656833/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148158874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer O'Neil, Nathalie Dionne, Katrine Sauve-Schenk, Jacinthe Savard
{"title":"Access to a telehealth falls prevention program: Mixed-method analysis from a health equity perspective.","authors":"Jennifer O'Neil, Nathalie Dionne, Katrine Sauve-Schenk, Jacinthe Savard","doi":"10.1177/1357633X261453631","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X261453631","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IntroductionAccess to falls prevention programs, addressing an important public health concern, is often limited for Francophone and Acadian minority communities. Technology has been used to deliver falls prevention programs, but health equity factors linked to improving its access for all are still poorly understood. This study aimed to document health equity factors influencing access from the perspective of older francophone adults in various communities across Canada.MethodsGuided by the digital health equity framework, we used a sequential explanatory mixed method, including a descriptive sociodemographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, to document perspectives on access of persons who had completed different versions of a telehealth falls prevention program.ResultsSixty-one participants from five provinces completed the sociodemographic questionnaire, of which most participants (<i>n</i> = 45) represented perspectives from francophone communities living in a minority situation. Results revealed that 91% of participants had access to a computer or tablet with adequate audio-visual components for telehealth. Twenty of these participants, from four provinces, shared their perspectives. The majority of them reported that falls prevention programs should be offered in their preferred language and with different delivery options that consider the social and safety preferences of participants. Eight recommendations informing policy and implementation emerged.DiscussionAdvocacy around digital connectivity is essential to ensure that all Canadians have equitable access to high-speed internet connections and proper infrastructure. Participants also raised the importance of adapting services to their linguistic realities, geographic location, safety, and basic needs to optimize the impact of the health services provided to them.</p>","PeriodicalId":50024,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare","volume":" ","pages":"1357633X261453631"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148145293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}