Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPD

IntroductionRemote healthcare adoption has grown significantly in United States (US). However, better characterization of patient behaviors and comfort with the use of digital health is needed, especially among vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to evaluate how sociodemographic...

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Main Authors: Daniela Téllez, Elroy Boers, Leanne Kaye, Vy Vuong, Meredith A. Barrett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Digital Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1579983/full
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author Daniela Téllez
Elroy Boers
Leanne Kaye
Vy Vuong
Meredith A. Barrett
author_facet Daniela Téllez
Elroy Boers
Leanne Kaye
Vy Vuong
Meredith A. Barrett
author_sort Daniela Téllez
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionRemote healthcare adoption has grown significantly in United States (US). However, better characterization of patient behaviors and comfort with the use of digital health is needed, especially among vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to evaluate how sociodemographic characteristics may relate to the adoption of digital health among patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsAdults residing in the US and using a digital platform for asthma or COPD management were surveyed to understand (1) level of comfort sharing health data with their healthcare providers and (2) the presence of remote care concerns, specifically clinical, technological, privacy and financial concerns. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the relationship between baseline disease status, sex, age, race, education, insurance, and income, with health data sharing patterns and areas of concern with remote care.ResultsAbout one-third of survey respondents reported sharing health data with their provider, and most respondents had at least one concern in receiving remote care, with clinical and privacy concerns being the most frequently reported. However, attitudes and behaviors toward virtual health delivery were mixed. Patients with lower income were 65% more likely to share any health data (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.13–2.43, p = 0.0104), but were also more likely to report at least one concern on virtual healthcare delivery. White patients (vs. non-white) were 2.5 times more likely to report clinical concerns when obtaining remote care (OR 2.5 95% CI 1.57–3.96, p = 0.0001).DiscussionPatterns of data sharing and concerns with remote care varied across sociodemographic predictors, sometimes in opposing ways. These learnings highlight the need for further research, including moderating and mediating factors like social support, health literacy, and rurality, to uncover the real-world use and impact of digital health services at a population level.
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spelling doaj-art-2d1ac6e8c1df43c0a9ec31d43860868c2025-07-28T05:30:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2025-07-01710.3389/fdgth.2025.15799831579983Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPDDaniela Téllez0Elroy Boers1Leanne Kaye2Vy Vuong3Meredith A. Barrett4ResMed Science Center, San Diego, CA, United StatesResMed Science Center, Halifax, NS, CanadaResMed Science Center, San Diego, CA, United StatesResMed Science Center, San Diego, CA, United StatesResMed Science Center, San Diego, CA, United StatesIntroductionRemote healthcare adoption has grown significantly in United States (US). However, better characterization of patient behaviors and comfort with the use of digital health is needed, especially among vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to evaluate how sociodemographic characteristics may relate to the adoption of digital health among patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsAdults residing in the US and using a digital platform for asthma or COPD management were surveyed to understand (1) level of comfort sharing health data with their healthcare providers and (2) the presence of remote care concerns, specifically clinical, technological, privacy and financial concerns. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the relationship between baseline disease status, sex, age, race, education, insurance, and income, with health data sharing patterns and areas of concern with remote care.ResultsAbout one-third of survey respondents reported sharing health data with their provider, and most respondents had at least one concern in receiving remote care, with clinical and privacy concerns being the most frequently reported. However, attitudes and behaviors toward virtual health delivery were mixed. Patients with lower income were 65% more likely to share any health data (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.13–2.43, p = 0.0104), but were also more likely to report at least one concern on virtual healthcare delivery. White patients (vs. non-white) were 2.5 times more likely to report clinical concerns when obtaining remote care (OR 2.5 95% CI 1.57–3.96, p = 0.0001).DiscussionPatterns of data sharing and concerns with remote care varied across sociodemographic predictors, sometimes in opposing ways. These learnings highlight the need for further research, including moderating and mediating factors like social support, health literacy, and rurality, to uncover the real-world use and impact of digital health services at a population level.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1579983/fulldigital healthsocial determinants of healthremote careasthmaCOPD
spellingShingle Daniela Téllez
Elroy Boers
Leanne Kaye
Vy Vuong
Meredith A. Barrett
Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPD
Frontiers in Digital Health
digital health
social determinants of health
remote care
asthma
COPD
title Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPD
title_full Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPD
title_fullStr Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPD
title_full_unstemmed Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPD
title_short Sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and COPD
title_sort sociodemographic predictors of digital health adoption in patients with asthma and copd
topic digital health
social determinants of health
remote care
asthma
COPD
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1579983/full
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