THURS-110 - Telehealth and Its Impact on Childhood Health Outcomes
Thursday, April 17, 2025
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM PST
Location: Pacific I/II, 2nd Floor
Area of Responsibility: Area VI: Communication Subcompetencies: 6.4.2 Select communication channels and current and emerging technologies that are most appropriate for the audience(s) and message(s).
6.4 Select methods and technologies used to deliver message(s).
6.4.1 Differentiate the strengths and weaknesses of various communication channels and technologies (e.g., mass media, community mobilization, counseling, peer communication, information/digital technology, and apps).
6.1 Determine factors that affect communication with the identified audience(s)., 6.1 Determine factors that affect communication with the identified audience(s).
Professor California Baptist University Yucaipa, California, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to recognize the benefits of telehealth in addressing children's medical care needs in the US.
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to identify four technology-related reasons children did not receive the care they needed.
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to identify how telehealth can help address barriers to health care.
Brief Abstract Summary: Key take-aways from this presentation include: Discover how telehealth addresses barriers to healthcare access and improves childhood health outcomes. Learn about findings from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health, where 83.8% of children received care, though 3.5% faced barriers like appointment scheduling, transportation, and office hours. Recognize the role of telehealth, used by 21.5% of respondents, in significantly reducing poor health outcomes by 45% and minimizing the impact of health conditions on daily activities by 56%. Gain insights into the continued value of telehealth in improving care for children.
Detailed abstract description: Background/Rationale: According to the USDHHS, telehealth is defined as the use of communication-based technologies that can be used to provide health care at a distance. Telehealth offers a potential solution to several barriers faced by individuals trying to access the health care system, including geographical location, provider shortages, and the need for timely access to care. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the use of telehealth and childhood health outcomes. Methodology/
Description: Data from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) was used. This survey provides comprehensive data on children's physical and mental health, healthcare access and quality, and family life. Major Findings: The results from the current study found that: • 83.8% of children (n=42,649) received some form of medical care in the past 12 months. Whereas nearly 16% (n=8,134) of children did not receive any medical care. • Further, 3.5% (n=1,761) of participants reported not receiving needed health care. Among the reasons for this finding, 529 parents (1%) reported that their child didn’t receive needed care due to unavailability, 1,058 (2.1%) cited trouble getting an appointment, 190 (0.4%) had difficulty finding transportation, and 440 (0.9%) said the office wasn’t open. • Telehealth use: 21.5% of respondents reported that their child had a health care visit via video or phone. • Health outcomes: Children who used telehealth (video/phone calls) had a 45% reduced likelihood of reporting poor health outcomes compared to those who did not use telehealth (OR: 0.542, p< 0.001). Additionally, telehealth users had a 56% reduced likelihood of reporting that their daily activities were affected by their health condition (OR: 0.542, p< 0.001).
Conclusion: The results indicate that while most children received medical care in the past year, barriers such as availability, appointment scheduling, transportation, and office hours exist for many. Results demonstrate that telehealth is a potentilly valuable resource, significantly improving health outcomes and reducing the impact of health conditions on daily activities for children and families who utilized it.
