638 - Views and Attitudes Among Young and Mid-Adults on Telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Monday, May 1, 2023

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM ET

Poster Number: 638
Publication Number: 638.455

Natalie Pierre-Joseph, Boston University School of Medicine, Winchester, MA, United States; Taylor Hall, Boston Medical Center, dorchester, MA, United States; Rana R. Mokhtar, Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA, United States; Zarin Pilakkadavath, Boston medical Centre, Boston, MA, United States; Xueqing Guo, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; Ruchita S. Borgaonkar, Boston University School of Public Health, Allston, MA, United States; Dominique Guillaume, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Jessica Holtcamp, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Joanna Li, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Johane Seide, Boston Medical Center, Leominster, MA, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Natalie Pierre-Joseph, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)

Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Boston University Chobanian& Avedisian School of Medicine
Winchester, Massachusetts, United States

Background:

The adoption of Telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic gained precedence due to its advantage of patient safety. Minimal research has been done to assess the experience of Telehealth across age groups, as their healthcare needs and preferences may vary.

Objective: To explore the views and attitudes of Telehealth among young and mid-adults to elicit an insight on visit preference (Telehealth or in person) based on age currently and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/Methods:

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted on women aged 19-44 years who received care at Boston Medical Center from April 2021 to September 2022. The participants were a subgroup of a larger study evaluating the immunogenicity of the 9vHPV vaccination regimen. Participants were queried on topics regarding views and attitudes on Telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and Telehealth preference (phone or video). Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed; responses were manually coded as themes emerged, analyzed, and organized using modified ground theory and content analysis.

Results:

A total of 30 women, 15 young adults (19-25 years) and 15 mid-adults (26-44 years), were interviewed. The mean age of the young and mid-adult population was 22.8 (SD=1.78) and 31.2 (SD= 5.65), respectively. Half of the participants reported receiving Telehealth. The most commonly reported Telehealth advantages were convenience and avoidance of transportation time or parking issues: “It’s very convenient…I can just log onto the Zoom from wherever I am…” (H129, Mid Adult). More mid-adults reported no disadvantages of Telehealth than young adults. The most frequent Telehealth disadvantage perceived by young adults was the inability to explain their medical concerns to providers. The types of medical care preferred using Telehealth varied among participants varied. They included disseminating lab results and mental health visits. Mental health visits were preferred via Telehealth among mid-adults compared to young adults: “I like having my mental health visits online because it’s not as needed to see me in person"(H162, Young Adult). Most participants (80%) supported Telehealth post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion(s):

A general support of Telehealth during and post-COVID-19 pandemic across age groups exists. Our findings also suggest that health care providers evaluate Telehealth preferences (phone vs video) based on the needs of each age group to further optimize care. Further research should explore visit preference (Telehealth vs in person) among different mental health needs.