Identifying Factors Associated with Self-Reported Adult Telehealth Utilization: Evidence from Mississippi

Abstract

Background:

Mississippi faces significant health disparities and barriers to health care access, particularly in its most rural areas. Telehealth offers a promising solution to address these challenges, but its adoption remains uneven. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential factors associated with self-reported telehealth utilization among adult Mississippi residents, focusing on individual-, household-, and area-level characteristics.

Methods:

Data were collected from a state-representative survey of adult Mississippi residents (N = 821) using both online- and phone-based platforms, supplemented with secondary internet quality and local health care access data. A two-stage hurdle regression model was used to examine factors associated with telehealth use and conditional on any use, utilization frequency. A regression estimating associations with the use of in-person medical care was also estimated for comparison purposes.

Results:

Telehealth use was significantly associated with specific health conditions and health insurance status. However, local internet quality did not significantly impact the likelihood of telehealth use aside from a marginally significant association with local upload speed. Findings suggest that other demographic- and health-related factors may play a more prominent role. We also find differential telehealth utilization rates by region, suggesting that area-level characteristics like health care infrastructure may affect telehealth use likelihood.

Conclusions:

Telehealth adoption in Mississippi is associated with individual factors like health and insurance status rather than broadband access alone. Efforts to expand telehealth use should also address noninfrastructure barriers, such as digital literacy and awareness, particularly in rural and underserved populations.