scholarly journals VA Video Connect for Clinical Care in Older Adults in a Rural State During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalpana P Padala ◽  
Kerrie B Wilson ◽  
C Heath Gauss ◽  
Jessica D Stovall ◽  
Prasad R Padala
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for telehealth at home. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs is a leading provider of telehealth, disparities may exist in reaching older veterans living in rural areas. VA Video Connect (VVC) is a video conferencing app that enables veterans to connect with their health care provider via a secure and private session. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the capability and willingness of older veterans to participate in a VVC visit during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on older veterans (N=118) at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Participants were interviewed over the phone and responses to the following items were recorded: availability of internet, email, and an electronic device with a camera; veterans’ willingness to complete an appointment via a VVC visit; and availability of assistance from a caregiver for those who were unable to participate in a VVC visit alone. RESULTS Participants’ mean age was 72.6 (SD 8.3) years, 92% (n=108) were male, 69% (n=81) were Caucasian, 30% (n=35) were African Americans, and 36% (n=42) lived in a rural location. The majority reported having access to the internet (n=93, 77%) and email service (n=83, 70%), but only 56% (n=67) had a camera-equipped device. Overall, 53% (n=63) were willing and capable of participating in a VVC visit. The availability of internet access was significantly lower in rural compared to nonrural participants (<i>P</i>=.045) and in those with or less than a high school education compared to those who pursued higher education (<i>P</i>=.02). Willingness to participate in the VVC visit was significantly lower in rural compared to nonrural participants (<i>P</i>=.03). Of the participants who reported they were able and willing to partake in a VVC visit (n=54), 65% (n=35) opted for VVC and 35% (n=19) preferred a phone visit. In total, 77% (n=27) of the scheduled VVC visits were successful. CONCLUSIONS Despite advances in technology, and willingness on the part of health care systems, there are some lingering issues with capability and willingness to participate in video telehealth visits, particularly among older adults residing in rural areas.

scholarly journals VA Video Connect for Clinical Care in Older Adults in a Rural State During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study

10.2196/21561 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. e21561
Author(s):  
Kalpana P Padala ◽  
Kerrie B Wilson ◽  
C Heath Gauss ◽  
Jessica D Stovall ◽  
Prasad R Padala
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for telehealth at home. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs is a leading provider of telehealth, disparities may exist in reaching older veterans living in rural areas. VA Video Connect (VVC) is a video conferencing app that enables veterans to connect with their health care provider via a secure and private session. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the capability and willingness of older veterans to participate in a VVC visit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on older veterans (N=118) at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Participants were interviewed over the phone and responses to the following items were recorded: availability of internet, email, and an electronic device with a camera; veterans’ willingness to complete an appointment via a VVC visit; and availability of assistance from a caregiver for those who were unable to participate in a VVC visit alone. Results Participants’ mean age was 72.6 (SD 8.3) years, 92% (n=108) were male, 69% (n=81) were Caucasian, 30% (n=35) were African Americans, and 36% (n=42) lived in a rural location. The majority reported having access to the internet (n=93, 77%) and email service (n=83, 70%), but only 56% (n=67) had a camera-equipped device. Overall, 53% (n=63) were willing and capable of participating in a VVC visit. The availability of internet access was significantly lower in rural compared to nonrural participants (P=.045) and in those with or less than a high school education compared to those who pursued higher education (P=.02). Willingness to participate in the VVC visit was significantly lower in rural compared to nonrural participants (P=.03). Of the participants who reported they were able and willing to partake in a VVC visit (n=54), 65% (n=35) opted for VVC and 35% (n=19) preferred a phone visit. In total, 77% (n=27) of the scheduled VVC visits were successful. Conclusions Despite advances in technology, and willingness on the part of health care systems, there are some lingering issues with capability and willingness to participate in video telehealth visits, particularly among older adults residing in rural areas.

scholarly journals Assessment of maternal birth satisfaction and intra-partum experiences among the women of rural areas of Tamil Nadu- a cross sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 6006
Author(s):  
Janakiram Marimuthu ◽  
A. Arul Murugan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Maternal Satisfaction ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Birth Satisfaction ◽  
Set Up

Background: Childbirth, though a physiological process, has been associated with multiple risks and stress on the women, even before the time of conception till the post-partum. Every woman around the world has a right to receive respectful maternity care. Birth satisfaction and respectful maternal care has direct impact on percentage of institutional deliveries. There is paucity of studies conducted among the women of rural Tamil Nadu regarding birth satisfaction and intrapartum experiences.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in primary health center area, red hills among the post-partum women attending the immunization OPD at 6, 10 and 14th week after delivery during the months of March to June 2018. By simple random sampling technique 195 subjects were included. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect the data. Ethical clearance was obtained from our Institutional Ethics Committee. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysis was done using SPSS Software version 23.Results: The study shows the importance of maternal satisfaction and intrapartum experiences of women in rural areas. It concluded that the overall satisfaction was 85.5%. The transport facility available at the health care set up which satisfied the mothers was around 91.4%. The interaction of health care providers with mothers during delivery was around 64.5%. Cleanliness and comfort of the delivery area was around 64%. Equality of care provided at the health care set up was around 83%.Conclusions: Reasons for delivery visit, duration of labour, and mode of delivery are independent predictors of maternal satisfaction.

scholarly journals Morbidity pattern of elderly women of rural North Karnataka: a community based cross-sectional study

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 4286
Author(s):  
K. Kriti Bhat ◽  
M. C. Yadavannavar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Rural Elderly ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: With the increasing life expectancy, the population around the world is growing old at a higher rate. Ensuring their quality of life and addressing their health care needs is a major challenge ahead. Elderly women are more vulnerable and there is a dearth for information regarding their health problems in India. Therefore, this study was undertaken focusing on the health problems of rural elderly women. The objective of the study was to assess the morbidity pattern of rural elderly women.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of Shri B M Patil Medical College, Vijayapura from November 2015 to February 2016. A house-to-house survey was done and 200 women aged ≥60 years were included in the study. They were interviewed using pretested and predesigned questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. Information regarding demographic profile, present or past illness, economic history and physical activity of daily living were collected. Analysis was done using SPSS v.16 and data was represented using proportions and percentages.Results: Majority of the participants were illiterate (96.4%). Most (83.6%) of them were financially dependent. Most common chronic illness was arthritis (73.3%) and visual problem (58.8%).Conclusions: Our study reveals majority of the elderly women are suffering from one or multiple chronic illnesses. As a matter of fact, there is an urgent need to develop better health care services for the elderly women residing in rural areas.

scholarly journals Prevalence of frailty in rural community-dwelling older adults in Kegalle district of Sri Lanka: a population-based cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e026314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhammika Deepani Siriwardhana ◽  
Manuj Chrishantha Weerasinghe ◽  
Greta Rait ◽  
Milena Falcaro ◽  
Shaun Scholes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectiveOur main objective was to describe the prevalence and associated sociodemographic factors of frailty and pre-frailty in rural community-dwelling older adults in Kegalle district of Sri Lanka.DesignCommunity-based cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted in rural areas of Kegalle district in Sri Lanka.ParticipantsA total of 746 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years were included in the study.ResultsThe prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in rural Kegalle district was 15.2% (95% CI 12.3% to 18.6%) and 48.5% (95% CI 43.8% to 53.2%), respectively. We found a strong association between age and both frailty and pre-frailty. There were strong associations between longest-held occupation and frailty and education level and pre-frailty.ConclusionsThe prevalence of frailty in this rural Sri Lankan older population was high compared with high-income and upper middle-income countries. The profile of health and social care services in Sri Lanka needs to address frailty and its consequences.

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