Dataset Information

A Cardiovascular Clinic Patients' Survey to Assess Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Health Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Health Survey During COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Background

COVID-19 boosted healthcare digitalization and personalization in cardiology. However, understanding patient attitudes and engagement behaviors are essential to achieve successful acceptance and implementation of digital health technologies in personalized care.

Objective

This study aims to understand current and future trends in wearable device and telemedicine use in the cardiology clinic patient population, recognize patients' attitude towards digital health before and after COVID-19, and identify potential socioeconomic and racial/ethnic differences in adoption of digital health tools in New Orleans patient population.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to Tulane Cardiology Clinic patients between September 2020 and January 2021. Basic demographical information, medical comorbidities, device usage, and opinions on digital health tools were collected.

Results

Survey responses from 299 participants (average age = 54 years, 50.8% female, 24.4% African American (AA)), showed that digital health use was more prevalent in younger, healthier, and more educated individuals. Wearable's use was also higher among Caucasian patients compared to AA patients. Patients cited costs and technology knowledge as primary deterrents for using wearables, despite being more inclined to use wearables for disease monitoring (41%). While wearables' use did not increase after COVID-19 (36.6% pre-COVID vs 35.4% post-COVID, p=0.77), telemedicine use rose significantly (10.8% pre-COVID19 vs. 24.3% during-COVID19, p<0.0001). Patients mostly noted telemedicine's effectiveness in overcoming difficult healthcare access barriers. Additionally, most patients are in support of wearables and telemedicine either complementing or replacing routine tests and traditional clinical visits.

Conclusion

Demographic and socioeconomic disparities negatively impact wearable health devices and telemedicine adoption within cardiovascular clinic patients. Although telemedicine use increased after COVID-19, this effect was not observed for wearables, reflecting significant economic and digital literacy challenges underlying wearables acceptance.

SUBMITTER: Dagher L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8600804 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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