Telehealth Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Recommendations for Rural Older Adults Living with HIV in the United States. J Aging Soc Policy 2025;37(6):1339-1357
Date
11/04/2024Pubmed ID
39494858Pubmed Central ID
PMC12049556DOI
10.1080/08959420.2024.2422658Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85209381773 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
Over one million people in the United States (U.S.) are living with HIV. People living with HIV in the rural South experience delayed HIV treatment and increased mortality risks. Access challenges and HIV stigma exacerbate care disengagement for rural people living with HIV (PLH). This study examines the applicability and feasibility of telehealth to provide HIV care for older adults in the rural U.S. South. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 key informants with expertise in HIV care and community engagement in high rural HIV burden states. Results indicate that telehealth challenges exist for older rural PLH to receive HIV care, such as lack of internet access and low technology literacy. Phone calls can be a simple and effective telehealth option for older rural PLH, as they align with their care preferences, mitigate care barriers, and show promise increasing care engagement. When warranted, complex telehealth options for older rural PLH require tailored approaches, such as portable medical instruments allowing real-time data sharing during home visits or tablet distribution from the clinic. Findings suggest that policy makers and providers support the reimbursement and use of audio-only telehealth services, expand broadband infrastructure and affordability in rural areas, and implement tailored telehealth interventions.
Author List
O'Neil AM, Quinn KG, Algiers OH, John SA, Hirshfield S, Kallies KJ, Petroll AE, Walsh JLAuthors
Kara J. Kallies Postdoctoral Researcher in the Comprehensive Injury Center department at Medical College of WisconsinAndrew Petroll MD Interim Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Katherine Quinn PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jennifer L. Walsh PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedFemale
HIV Infections
Health Policy
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Qualitative Research
Rural Population
Social Stigma
Telemedicine
United States
