Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team
ObjectivesThere is scarce knowledge on the benefits, limitations, and acceptance of telemedicine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly in those from under-resourced groups. We aimed to assess the experiences and views on telemedicine of people with SLE, clinicians, and nu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Health Services |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frhs.2025.1503881/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850153630989025280 |
|---|---|
| author | Savannah Bowman Sandeep K. Agarwal Keshia C. Ferguson Maryjo J. Maliekel Maria A. Lopez-Olivo Maria E. Suarez-Almazor Maria I. Danila Maria I. Danila Jinoos Yazdany Sebastian Bruera |
| author_facet | Savannah Bowman Sandeep K. Agarwal Keshia C. Ferguson Maryjo J. Maliekel Maria A. Lopez-Olivo Maria E. Suarez-Almazor Maria I. Danila Maria I. Danila Jinoos Yazdany Sebastian Bruera |
| author_sort | Savannah Bowman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesThere is scarce knowledge on the benefits, limitations, and acceptance of telemedicine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly in those from under-resourced groups. We aimed to assess the experiences and views on telemedicine of people with SLE, clinicians, and nursing staff from a safety net healthcare system in Harris County, Texas, defined as a hospital network that primarily serves low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable populations.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured 1:1 in-person interviews of patients with SLE and their clinical team members, in Harris County, Texas. Using Levesque's conceptual framework for healthcare access, semi-structured interviews and content analysis were used to explore benefits and limitations of telemedicine in under-resourced patients with SLE. Interview content was coded using inductive and deductive approaches. Data collected proceeded until thematic saturation was reached. Themes and subthemes were identified and visualized.ResultsFourteen interviews were conducted. The participants included six patients with SLE, three rheumatologists, two nurses, two medical assistants, and one rheumatology fellow. All participants had previously participated in telemedicine visits. One hundred and fifty-one codes were identified. Five key themes emerged from the analysis, including: (1) Access and Convenience, (2) Technological and Linguistic Barriers, (3) Economic Considerations, (4) Quality of Care and Disease Outcomes, and (5) Implementation of Telemedicine. Analysis showed that telemedicine could improve access to care and adherence to clinic visits by reducing the barriers associated with socioeconomic factors. On the other hand, barriers to telemedicine included digital literacy, concern about negative impact on physician-patient relationship, and language discordance.ConclusionThere is an opportunity to improve access to care in patients with SLE, particularly from under-resourced backgrounds, by leveraging the benefits of telemedicine with respect to access to care, while addressing the barriers to successful implementation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-25db56b27d514746b2648c5c76d9d2ce |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2813-0146 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Health Services |
| spelling | doaj-art-25db56b27d514746b2648c5c76d9d2ce2025-08-20T02:25:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Health Services2813-01462025-05-01510.3389/frhs.2025.15038811503881Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare teamSavannah Bowman0Sandeep K. Agarwal1Keshia C. Ferguson2Maryjo J. Maliekel3Maria A. Lopez-Olivo4Maria E. Suarez-Almazor5Maria I. Danila6Maria I. Danila7Jinoos Yazdany8Sebastian Bruera9Section of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesSection of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesSection of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesSection of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Health Services Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Health Services Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United StatesDivision of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United StatesBirmingham Atlanta Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United StatesDivision of Rheumatology, Universityof California, San Francisco, CA, United StatesSection of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesObjectivesThere is scarce knowledge on the benefits, limitations, and acceptance of telemedicine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly in those from under-resourced groups. We aimed to assess the experiences and views on telemedicine of people with SLE, clinicians, and nursing staff from a safety net healthcare system in Harris County, Texas, defined as a hospital network that primarily serves low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable populations.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured 1:1 in-person interviews of patients with SLE and their clinical team members, in Harris County, Texas. Using Levesque's conceptual framework for healthcare access, semi-structured interviews and content analysis were used to explore benefits and limitations of telemedicine in under-resourced patients with SLE. Interview content was coded using inductive and deductive approaches. Data collected proceeded until thematic saturation was reached. Themes and subthemes were identified and visualized.ResultsFourteen interviews were conducted. The participants included six patients with SLE, three rheumatologists, two nurses, two medical assistants, and one rheumatology fellow. All participants had previously participated in telemedicine visits. One hundred and fifty-one codes were identified. Five key themes emerged from the analysis, including: (1) Access and Convenience, (2) Technological and Linguistic Barriers, (3) Economic Considerations, (4) Quality of Care and Disease Outcomes, and (5) Implementation of Telemedicine. Analysis showed that telemedicine could improve access to care and adherence to clinic visits by reducing the barriers associated with socioeconomic factors. On the other hand, barriers to telemedicine included digital literacy, concern about negative impact on physician-patient relationship, and language discordance.ConclusionThere is an opportunity to improve access to care in patients with SLE, particularly from under-resourced backgrounds, by leveraging the benefits of telemedicine with respect to access to care, while addressing the barriers to successful implementation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frhs.2025.1503881/fulltelemedicinesystemic lupus—erythematosussocioeconomic disparityqualitativethematic analyses |
| spellingShingle | Savannah Bowman Sandeep K. Agarwal Keshia C. Ferguson Maryjo J. Maliekel Maria A. Lopez-Olivo Maria E. Suarez-Almazor Maria I. Danila Maria I. Danila Jinoos Yazdany Sebastian Bruera Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team Frontiers in Health Services telemedicine systemic lupus—erythematosus socioeconomic disparity qualitative thematic analyses |
| title | Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team |
| title_full | Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team |
| title_fullStr | Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team |
| title_short | Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team |
| title_sort | telemedicine for under resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team |
| topic | telemedicine systemic lupus—erythematosus socioeconomic disparity qualitative thematic analyses |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frhs.2025.1503881/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT savannahbowman telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT sandeepkagarwal telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT keshiacferguson telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT maryjojmaliekel telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT mariaalopezolivo telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT mariaesuarezalmazor telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT mariaidanila telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT mariaidanila telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT jinoosyazdany telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam AT sebastianbruera telemedicineforunderresourcedpatientswithsystemiclupuserythematosusaqualitativestudyexploringtheviewsandexperiencesofpatientsandtheirhealthcareteam |