By Jill Pease
A University of Florida study finds that people with diabetes who participate in telehealth doctor visits report the same level of quality of care, trust in the health care system, and patient-centered communication as patients who receive care through in-person visits.
The study suggests that telehealth, which exploded in popularity during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, should continue to be integrated into diabetes care, says the study’s lead author Young-Rock Hong, Ph.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy.
“Many patients and providers have experienced the convenience and effectiveness of telehealth, not only for diabetes management,” Hong said. “The COVID-19 emergency period greatly expanded telehealth access and reimbursement, however, many of these flexibilities are set to expire after the public health emergency ends on Dec. 31, 2024, which could limit telehealth availability without further action.”
According to the team’s findings, which appear in the journal BMJ Open, about half of patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes use telehealth for their care.
Diabetes care is a particularly good fit for telehealth given the frequency of health care visits — including a recommended four times a year with an endocrinologist — and the focus on lifestyle counseling, medication adjustments, and mental health support, Hong said.
“Telehealth removes barriers, such as distance from the provider, and increases the ease and convenience for receiving diabetes care,” added Ashby Walker, Ph.D., the study’s senior author, a UF PHHP assistant professor of health services research, management and policy, and the director for health equity initiatives at the UF Diabetes Institute. “Diabetes is a ‘24-7’ disease that impacts people every moment of every day.”
Telehealth appears to be a good option from the providers’ perspective as well. A previous study team members conducted found more than 80% of U.S. physicians intended to continue telehealth beyond the pandemic.
Read the full story in the UF Health newsroom.