Abstract
As the threat of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations continues, mitigation protocols have escalated the use of telehealth platforms, secure 2-way video platforms with audio capabilities. The goal of the current study was to examine factors associated with successful completion of video telehealth appointments in HIV care. We utilized a random effects logistic model to assess characteristics of patient encounters that predicted completed telehealth visits. Results show that factors such as identifying as black (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.23–0.40, p < 0.01), identifying as heterosexual (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI, 0.29–0.55, p < 0.01), identifying as Hispanic/Latinx (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI, 0.48–0.95), having public insurance (e.g., Ryan White funding, Medicare/Medicaid) (AOR = .25, 95% CI 0.19–0.33, p < .001), and having detectable viral load (AOR = .049, 95% CI, 0.31–0.76) are negatively associated with completion of telehealth appointments. Results suggest that greater efforts to address the digital divide are needed to increase access to video telehealth.
Highlights
Access to medical treatment and care for those living with or at risk for HIV is vital to ensuring quality of life and limiting the spread of the disease [1,2,3]
For people living with HIV (PLWH), lack of access to medical care is associated with poor disease management, antiretroviral medication failure, and increased incidence of ER visits and/or hospitalizations [4,5,6]
As the threat of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations continues, mitigation protocols have escalated the use of telehealth platforms, secure 2-way video platforms with audio capabilities, for the safe management of uninterrupted care [11,12,13]
Summary
Access to medical treatment and care for those living with or at risk for HIV is vital to ensuring quality of life and limiting the spread of the disease [1,2,3]. For people living with HIV (PLWH), lack of access to medical care is associated with poor disease management, antiretroviral medication failure, and increased incidence of ER visits and/or hospitalizations [4,5,6]. Further those on pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) therapy need regular monitoring of liver enzymes and renal functioning to ensure mitigation of long-term toxic effects [7,8,9]. Regular monitoring of those on PrEP ensures. CAN Community Healthcare (CAN), a community-based nonprofit organization providing prevention services and care to PLWH and those at high risk, has been at the forefront of adaptive telehealth services for this population
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