The relationship between access to mental health counseling and interest in rural telehealth.

Abstract

Telehealth has been proposed as a strategy to reduce disparities in access to mental health counseling in rural areas. The objective of this study was to compare interest in telehealth between rural and urban communities and to identify the factors that impact interest in using telehealth services. A sample of 2,010 respondents completed a cross-sectional survey addressing issues of access to mental counseling and interest in telehealth in both rural and urban areas. Survey data were collected in October-November 2018 from a five-county area in central Illinois. Path modeling was used to test the relationship between rural residence, access to mental health counseling, and interest in telehealth. Rural residents had less access to mental health counseling (85.1% vs. 90.0%) and the internet than their urban counterparts (81.1% vs. 91.7%). However, people in rural communities had more interest in telehealth (β = .45, p < .01) and access to mental health counseling was a predictor for interest in telehealth (β = −.53, p < .01). This study found that rural residents, especially younger adults and those who face barriers to accessing mental health counseling, are the most interested in telehealth. Policies regarding availability of broadband platforms and expanding telehealth in rural areas may help alleviate issues related to access to mental health counseling in rural areas. Public Health Significance StatementThis study describes the use of telehealth and finds that people living in rural communities are interested in use of these services for mental health care.

Developing and Evaluating a Measure of the Willingness to Use Pandemic-Related mHealth Tools Using National Probability Samples in the United States: Quantitative Psychometric Analyses and Tests of Sociodemographic Group Differences

“…These findings are consistent with the prior literature on mHealth for rural populations. For example, a recent study of the association between access to mental health counseling and interest in rural telehealth found that although rural residents have less access to mental health counseling and the internet than urban residents, rural residents have more interest in telehealth [ 48 ]. Additionally, the less access participants had to mental health counseling, the greater their interest in telehealth [ 48 ].…”

Consumer Healthcare Technology Usage Impacting Behavior

“…Telehealth has seen increased usage through expanded healthcare industry adoption and the recent pressures from the pandemic. One study found an increased interest in telehealth when access to physical services were limited, and this was particularly common in rural areas (Weinzimmer et al, 2021). Rural clinical staff members were able to define telehealth services and uses but expressed concerns for its ability to maintain and use as well as the cost and privacy (McClellan et al, 2020).…”

When a Straight Line Is Not the Most Direct Method: an Evaluation of Straight Line Versus True Distance Metrics for Patients in Rural Settings

“…Despite ongoing efforts to address mental health disparities throughout the USA, nearly 135 million Americans continue to reside in mental health shortage areas, with a majority living in rural locations. 1,2 Among the numerous barriers to rural care, distance to services is a primary contributor; patients living further away from healthcare centers have poorer health outcomes. 3 As high-speed internet became more readily available, cheaper, and stable in non-urban locations, telehealth, or the integration of technology with healthcare services (e.g., video, telephone, email), became a frequently suggested method of reaching those who have historically gone without care.…”