Virtual Care for Older Rural Patients with Chronic Conditions
Author Information
Author(s): Price Eloise A. B., Hamiduzzaman Mohammad, McLennan Vanette, Williams Christopher, Flood Victoria
Primary Institution: The University of Sydney
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between demographics, chronic conditions, and virtual care use among older rural patients?
Conclusion
Older rural patients with chronic conditions reported high satisfaction with virtual care, but technological issues impacted their experiences.
Supporting Evidence
- 65.8% of patients rated their virtual care experience as 'very good'.
- Patients with multimorbidity were 1.8 times more likely to have more virtual care appointments.
- Technological issues correlated with negative experiences in virtual care.
Takeaway
This study shows that older people living in the countryside can get healthcare through video calls, which makes it easier for them to see doctors without traveling far.
Methodology
The study analyzed existing survey data from 2020 to 2022, focusing on older rural patients' experiences with virtual care.
Potential Biases
Potential cognitive bias due to repeated survey participation and exclusion of non-English speakers.
Limitations
The sample size was small, and the study may not represent all rural experiences due to broad categorization of rurality.
Participant Demographics
Median age 74 years; 51.1% women; 64% had a longstanding chronic illness.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.86–3.78
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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