Comparing veterans preferences and barriers for video visit utilization versus in-person visits: A survey of two VA centers
summary
“This study examined Veteran experiences with video visits during COVID-19. Less than half the sample preferred video to in-person visits, which is consistent with prior research. Similar to other studies, internet access was a potential disparity that influenced video telehealth preference. While concerns about confidentiality and discomfort with video utilization were main barriers early on during COVID-19, we found this concern in only 10% of Veterans upon conducting our survey in 2021. While inability to perform an examination remains a major concern for physicians during video visits, around half of the Veterans continue to share this concern, albeit with significant variability between groups. Video pessimists were more likely to share this concern. They were also more likely to report that video visits interfered with their everyday routine, which may be due to their lower internet accessibility and comfort in use of technology. These data support the need for digital health literacy and access to technology to improve Veterans’ experiences with video telehealth.” Full citation:
El-Shahawy O, Nicholson A, Illenberger N, Altshuler L, Dembitzer A, Krebs P, Jay M (2024). Comparing veterans preferences and barriers for video visit utilization versus in-person visits: A survey of two VA centers
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 39 (Suppl 1), 106-108. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08494-9. PMCID: PMC10937864.