Factors associated with telemedicine utilization among post-transplant patients at a university kidney and pancreas transplant center.

Abstract

Telemedicine has become prevalent during the novel-coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study explored patient factors associated with telemedicine utilization among post-kidney and pancreas transplant patients at a university center. After analyzing 2801 patients and their visits using chi-square test and logistic regression, we found that government-insured (P <.0001) post-kidney and pancreas transplant patients were less likely to use telemedicine. Sex (P = .748), patient race (P = .920), age groups (P = .812), and traveling distance (P = .837) were not associated with telemedicine use. Centers should consider focusing on the subgroup of government-insured patients to improve telemedicine use and future studies should consider exploring barriers for underutilization of telemedicine in this population.