Telehealth Utilization and Broadband Access Disparities in Rural Communities Using 2023 NHIS Data
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in telehealth adoption, yet rural population broadband access and telehealth use remain concerns. Addressing these barriers is crucial for improving healthcare access in rural areas. This study examines how geography influences reported barriers to telehealth access and how sociological and demographic factors contribute to disparities. Using data from the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we analyzed 19,819 responses. Of these, 86.33% were urban/suburban residents, while 13.67% were rural. The racial composition included 70.62% White, 11.96% Black/African American, 6.88% Asian, 6.6% non-respondents, and the rest identifying as AIAN or Other. Two outcome variables for this study included reported telehealth use in the past 12 months (1 = used telehealth, 0 = did not use) and reported broadband access (1 = has access, 0 = does not). The primary independent variable was the rurality of the population (1 = rural, 0 = non-rural). Descriptive analyses and chi-square tests assessed associations between rurality and telehealth usage and broadband access. Differences in broadband access were noted, with 93.99% of rural residents having internet access compared to 96.87% of urban residents (P<.001). However, 80.44% of rural residents reported using telehealth in the past 12 months compared to 72.07% of urban residents (P<.001). It is possible that additional variables related to age, insurance status, and race that vary by rurality could explain these differences. While differences in reported access to broadband are small, telehealth use was more common among rural populations, which could reflect further distances from providers and be driven by need. While telehealth use was higher among rural, the definition of rural used in this study is broad. It is possible that more remote rural populations have less access and use than other rural communities more proximal to urban centers.
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 10:00 AM
Room Number
311
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Grad/Comp Orals
Presentation Category
Health
Faculty Mentor
Nathan Hale
Telehealth Utilization and Broadband Access Disparities in Rural Communities Using 2023 NHIS Data
311
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in telehealth adoption, yet rural population broadband access and telehealth use remain concerns. Addressing these barriers is crucial for improving healthcare access in rural areas. This study examines how geography influences reported barriers to telehealth access and how sociological and demographic factors contribute to disparities. Using data from the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we analyzed 19,819 responses. Of these, 86.33% were urban/suburban residents, while 13.67% were rural. The racial composition included 70.62% White, 11.96% Black/African American, 6.88% Asian, 6.6% non-respondents, and the rest identifying as AIAN or Other. Two outcome variables for this study included reported telehealth use in the past 12 months (1 = used telehealth, 0 = did not use) and reported broadband access (1 = has access, 0 = does not). The primary independent variable was the rurality of the population (1 = rural, 0 = non-rural). Descriptive analyses and chi-square tests assessed associations between rurality and telehealth usage and broadband access. Differences in broadband access were noted, with 93.99% of rural residents having internet access compared to 96.87% of urban residents (P<.001). However, 80.44% of rural residents reported using telehealth in the past 12 months compared to 72.07% of urban residents (P<.001). It is possible that additional variables related to age, insurance status, and race that vary by rurality could explain these differences. While differences in reported access to broadband are small, telehealth use was more common among rural populations, which could reflect further distances from providers and be driven by need. While telehealth use was higher among rural, the definition of rural used in this study is broad. It is possible that more remote rural populations have less access and use than other rural communities more proximal to urban centers.