Primary Submission Category: Health equity
Exploring Barriers and Facilitators of Telehealth Use Among Asian Indians in Washington State: A Qualitative Study
Authors:Â Priyanka Gautom, Cara Eckhardt, Lisa Marriott, Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman, Shoba Ramanadhan, Gloria Coronado,
Presenting Author: Priyanka Gautom*
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic shift in the expansion of telehealth across the country. Yet, many policies that endorsed broader telehealth access are expiring in 2025. The end of these temporary policies brings attention to challenges that remain, specifically regarding the use of telehealth. Current literature highlights the persistent low use of telehealth among culturally and linguistically diverse populations. However, despite being one of the largest immigrant communities in the country, little is known about Asian Indians’ experiences with telehealth. This study gathered perceptions from Asian Indians to understand their use of telehealth and identify ways to expand access for this community.
Methods: We used purposive sampling to recruit Asian Indian adults who lived and received healthcare in Washington State. Participants were recruited through flyers in culturally relevant locations and social media channels. The social-ecological model guided the formation of the semi-structured interview guide and analysis. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using thematic analysis to identify key themes.
Results: Twelve participants were interviewed, more than half of whom had used telehealth previously. Overall, participants reported some level of comfort with technology and noted several conveniences of telehealth, such as the ability to seek care without commuting to the clinic. Barriers to telehealth included the inability to communicate non-verbally, negative perceptions of healthcare in the U.S., and the lack of knowledge of telehealth due to the absence of discussion by care providers. Participants identified physicians, clinics, and reputable health organizations as trusted sources for learning about new health information or services, like telehealth.
Conclusions: These findings can inform future initiatives aimed at engaging Asian Indians in telehealth, particularly given the persistence of the digital divide.