Telehealth Acceptance among Appalachian Respondents During COVID 19: A Secondary Data Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between telehealth use, satisfaction, and chronic medical conditions among residents living in Appalachian non-Appalachian communities. Sample: A COVID-19 public health survey was distributed via social media healthcare clinics tri-state region central Appalachia. Survey responses were limited adults aged ≥18 years who consented participate that self-identified as an individual with one or more (n=195). Method: Simple descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations (SDs) calculated for variables interest both overall by subgroups interest. Chi-squared tests used compare categorical outcomes groups interest, while two-sample t-tests continuous outcomes. Significance all determined using α level 0.05. Findings: There no statistically significant respondents regard services, satisfaction rates related reasons electing not use services during pandemic. However, there a trending statistical county status Appalachia those counties doing economically better being likely compared fairing less well (p=0.053). Findings also suggest people urban areas be satisfied than non-urban (p=0.01). Conclusions: Research still how expansion broadband capabilities pandemic has benefited residing terms managing conditions. Future research should focus on expanding participation looking specific differences location within Appalachia, age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status. Keywords: Telehealth, Satisfaction, Rural, Appalachian, COVID-19DOI: https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v22i2.715