Sexual Orientation Effects in Health Information Technology Usage: Increasing Equity in Access While Physical Distancing

Abstract

In the face of surging cases of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), healthcare professionals are searching for ways to provide care to the general public that obviates the need for in-person contact. Pervasive heterosexism and social stigma have long presented structural barriers to care for sexual (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual) and gender (i.e., trans-identified, nonbinary, gender fluid) minority health service users. Health information technology (HIT) creates an opportunity for enhanced healthcare and communications that can simultaneously reduce harmful barriers to care, while also maintaining physical distancing to reduce COVID-19 exposure. While research has demonstrated the value of HIT usage for purchasing medications, communicating with healthcare providers, seeking health information, and managing personal health records, there remains a dearth of published empirical research concerning the participation in online health-related activities among sexual minorities, particularly emerging adults. In order to address this gap, we examined HIT usage as a function of sexual orientation through the secondary analysis of data collected in the National Health Interview Survey (2016–2018). Using multivariate analysis, we assessed the likelihood of using technology as a resource for health-related care and communication in sexual and gender minority (SGM) and heterosexual participants. After adjusting for demographic and health variables, SGM male and female participants had increased odds of HIT use when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Results indicate that health information technologies might be an innovative means of increasing access to care for stigmatized populations, while also ameliorating the choice between risking COVID-19 exposure during a clinical visit or postponing needed care.