Rural Cancer Survivors Report Low Telehealth Availability, Internet Access

mHealth Intelligence: Rural Cancer Survivors Report Low Telehealth Availability, Internet Access

A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found a wide digital divide among Medicare cancer survivors, with urban survivors being more likely to use telehealth as compared with their rural counterparts. The study found that while 62 percent of cancer survivors covered by Medicare reported that their usual practitioner provided telehealth services, rural survivors reported lower telehealth availability at 53 percent, as compared to 63 percent for those who lived in urban areas. Rural cancer survivors were less likely to own technology required for a telehealth visit, and were also less likely to have internet access compared to patients living in urban areas.