Factors Associated with Telehealth Service Utilization among Rural Populations

A major barrier to high-quality health care for individuals living in rural communities is specialty care access. Telehealth has emerged as an alternative approach to improving access to specialty care providers. Data on 3,618 adults who reported living in rural areas was analyzed from the 2015 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Logistic regression was used to examine predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with telehealth service use among rural populations. Individuals who were insured or who reported their health status as excellent, very good, or good were more likely to use telehealth services. While telehealth has the potential to address a number of health care access barriers, lack of insurance appears to remain a barrier even when using telehealth care. Further, telehealth may not address the access needs of individuals who have the greatest need for health care services - those with poorer health status.