Many Black, Latinx Adults Prefer Telehealth Visits for Asthma-Related Care

Telehealth visits are preferred for asthma checkups and symptom-related visits by a substantial proportion of Black and Latinx adults with moderate to severe asthma, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2023 International Conference, held in Washington, DC, May 19 to 24.

Investigators conducted the PREPARE study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02995733) to determine whether telehealth visits were a preferred mode of care among Black and Latinx adults with asthma, who “bear a disproportionate burden of asthma-related morbidity partly due to inadequate healthcare access,” said study authors.

Study findings were based on survey data, collected via email and telephone, from 847 Black and Latinx adults in the US (including Puerto Rico) with moderate to severe asthma. Participants were asked their mode of care preference for regular asthma checkups and symptom-related and emergency visits. Preference choices provided were: telehealth, in-person visits, or no preference. Survey questions also asked whether preferences had to do with cost; transportation; time constraints related to work, school, caregiving responsibilities; or other factors. Survey data was analyzed using logistic regression models that linked participant preferences with their baseline demographic, clinical, and phenotypic characteristics.

The investigators found respondents who preferred telehealth visits for regular asthma checkups (38%) were more likely to be employed (odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% CI, 1.19-2.45), be of younger age (OR, 0.98 for every 1 year older; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99), and have lower asthma medication adherence (OR, 0.94 for every 1-point increase in adherence scores; 95% CI, 0.90-0.98). Respondents who preferred telehealth visits for new or worsening asthma symptoms (16%) and this was associated with “speaking Spanish” (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.13-1.68.) Notably, only 5% of respondents preferred telehealth visits for emergencies, and this was associated with depression (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.14-4.12).

In reporting factors influencing their preference for telehealth visits (vs in-person visits vs no preference), transportation was the biggest barrier to in-person care (65%), followed by caregiving responsibilities (43%), costs (31%), and taking time off from work or school (24%).  

The study authors concluded that “A substantial proportion of Black and Latinx adults with moderate-severe asthma prefer telehealth visits for asthma-related care, particularly for regular checkups.”