A recent qualitative study explored perceptions of telemedicine among under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their healthcare teams at a safety-net health system in Texas. Using semi-structured interviews and Levesque’s healthcare access framework, the study identified five major themes: access and convenience, technological and linguistic barriers, economic considerations, quality of care and disease outcomes, and implementation needs. Telemedicine was broadly viewed as beneficial for increasing access, reducing transportation and childcare burdens, and improving visit adherence—especially for patients with stable disease. However, concerns included limited digital literacy, inadequate technology, difficulties with physical exams, and risks to the patient-provider relationship. Language barriers were cited by clinicians, though not by Spanish-speaking patients.
The study emphasized that while telemedicine holds promise for improving access and convenience in low-income populations with SLE, thoughtful implementation is critical. Recommendations include providing patient training on telemedicine platforms, ensuring technological readiness, incorporating interpreters, and developing protocols for technical difficulties. Telemedicine was generally considered appropriate for patients with low disease activity but less so for flares or new diagnoses. The findings offer valuable insights for designing equitable, patient-centered telemedicine programs for vulnerable SLE populations.
Reference: Bowman S, Agarwal SK, Ferguson KC, et al. Telemedicine for under-resourced patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a qualitative study exploring the views and experiences of patients and their healthcare team. Front Health Serv. 2025 May 22;5:1503881. doi: 10.3389/frhs.2025.1503881. PMID: 40476195; PMCID: PMC12137260.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40476195/
