Factors Impacting Video Telehealth Appointment Completion During COVID-19 Pandemic Among People Living with HIV in a Community-Based Health System

Abstract

AbstractAs the threat of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations continues, mitigation protocols have escalated the use of telehealth platforms, secure 2-way video platforms with audio capabilities. The goal of the current study was to examine factors associated with successful completion of video telehealth appointments in HIV care. We utilized a random effects logistic model to assess characteristics of patient encounters that predicted completed telehealth visits. Results show that factors such as identifying as black (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.23–0.40, p < 0.01), identifying as heterosexual (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI, 0.29–0.55, p < 0.01), identifying as Hispanic/Latinx (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI, 0.48–0.95), having public insurance (e.g., Ryan White funding, Medicare/Medicaid) (AOR = .25, 95% CI 0.19–0.33, p < .001), and having detectable viral load (AOR = .049, 95% CI, 0.31–0.76) are negatively associated with completion of telehealth appointments. Results suggest that greater efforts to address the digital divide are needed to increase access to video telehealth.