JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

As the number of cancer survivors continues to grow, optimizing long-term survivorship care models has become increasingly important. Telehealth has the potential to improve access to healthcare for survivors; however, studies evaluating telehealth in this population remain limited. Additionally, concerns persist regarding equity in technology access and digital literacy.

Objective:

This study aimed to examine demographic factors and patient attitudes influencing telehealth use among cancer survivors compared to the general population.

Methods:

Adult participants were identified from the nationally representative database Health Information National Trends Survey 6 (HINTS 6). Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the predictors of telehealth use among cancer survivors. Chi-square tests compared the prevalence of reported reasons of not using telehealth in the last 12 months between cancer survivors and the general population.

Results:

A total of 239,557,883 individuals were included in this study, 7.7% of whom are cancer survivors. Older age was associated with lower telehealth use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=0.11; 95% CI: 0.02–0.59 for patients aged ≥65, compared to those under 40 years old). Higher education (aOR=2.55; 95% CI: 1.24–5.27) and heart disease history (aOR=2.52; 95% CI: 1.20–5.28) were associated with increased telehealth use. Employed (aOR=0.46; 95%CI: 0.22-0.97) and retired (aOR=0.37; 95%CI: 0.18-0.77) cancer survivors were less likely to use telehealth than unemployed individuals. Of the non-users, over 60% reported that telehealth options were not offered, and 80% preferred in-person visits. Technical issues and privacy concerns were not major factors in utilizing telehealth.

Conclusions:

Despite greater telehealth use among cancer survivors, a negative association between older age and telemedicine utilization persists. Efforts should focus on improving access for older cancer survivors and addressing employment-related factors, patient attitudes, and telehealth availability. Future studies should explore personalized approaches to enhance cancer survivors’ healthcare experiences.