Chung Grace S, Ellimoottil Chad S, McCullough Jeffrey S
Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Telemed Rep. 2021 Nov 9;2(1):273-276. doi: 10.1089/tmr.2021.0025. eCollection 2021.
Older adults may experience a significant digital divide and need support with using technology to transition to telehealth. This study examines the role of social support for telehealth utilization among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data from the COVID-19 Sample Person Interview to the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Using logistic regression, we measured the association between telehealth utilization and social support. Nearly one in five respondents used telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic (weighted %: 20.6 [585/3188]). Currently living with family or friends and receipt of technical support were associated with telehealth utilization. Among residents of an assisted living facility, those who received communications technology support from the facility were more likely to use telehealth. Health care providers and policies should aim to reduce barriers to telehealth among older adults, with efforts such as digital literacy support and training.
老年人可能会经历显著的数字鸿沟，并且在使用技术向远程医疗过渡方面需要支持。本研究探讨了社会支持在新冠疫情期间老年人使用远程医疗方面所起的作用。我们使用了从新冠疫情样本个人访谈至国家健康与老龄化趋势研究的数据。通过逻辑回归，我们衡量了远程医疗使用与社会支持之间的关联。在新冠疫情期间，近五分之一的受访者使用了远程医疗（加权百分比：20.6 [585/3188]）。目前与家人或朋友同住以及获得技术支持与远程医疗的使用相关。在辅助生活设施的居民中，那些从设施获得通信技术支持的人更有可能使用远程医疗。医疗保健提供者和政策应致力于减少老年人使用远程医疗的障碍，比如提供数字素养支持和培训等举措。
