Telehealth and Cancer Care: What Two New Studies Reveal

Across the country, many people—especially in rural or underserved communities—face challenges using video-based telehealth (virtual visits) for cancer care. Reliable internet and confidence using digital tools can make the difference between being able to attend a virtual visit or traveling long distances for in‑person appointments. The research tried to understand these barriers more deeply: Who gets to use video telehealth? Why do some patients avoid it? And how can care be more accessible for everyone?

Two new studies—one qualitative and one quantitative (data‑driven)—help answer these questions.

 Study 1: Analyzing Data From Nearly 14,000 Patients (Quantitative Study)

The first study “Impact of Broadband Availability and Digital Literacy on Video Telehealth Use Among Cancer Patients” looked at data from 13,897 patients across a multi‑site cancer practice to see how broadband availability and digital literacy affected telehealth use. Researchers also surveyed more than 1,100 patients to measure their digital skills using the Digital Equity Screening Tool (DEST) that was developed with community input.

Key Findings

The study found that cancer patients were less likely to use video telehealth visits if they lived in areas with limited broadband availability, especially places with only one or no internet service providers offering adequate speeds. However, the study’s most important and unique finding was that digital literacy—patients’ comfort and confidence using technology—was the strongest predictor of video visit use, even in low broadband areas. Patients with higher digital skills were more than twice as likely to use video visits, suggesting that individual skills can partly offset structural internet limitations. This study uniquely combines national broadband mapping data with patient level survey data to show that improving telehealth access requires both infrastructure investment and targeted digital literacy support, rather than focusing on internet expansion alone.

 Study 2: Listening to Patients in Low‑Internet Areas (Qualitative Study)

In the second study “Barriers, Facilitators, and Attitudes Toward Telemedicine Adoption in Oncology: A Qualitative Study of Patients From Low-Broadband Areas,” researchers interviewed 24 cancer patients living in areas with very limited broadband access to understand their experiences with video telehealth visits. These interviews explored the challenges people faced, what helped them use telehealth, and why some still preferred in‑person visits.

Key Findings

The study revealed that differences in video telehealth use were driven less by internet access and more by experience, clinician offering, and situational necessity. A key unique contribution of this study was showing that many patients who never used video visits simply were not offered the option, while those who eventually adopted video visits often did so reluctantly due to bad weather, long travel distances, or safety concerns. Across both users and nonusers, patients strongly preferred in person visits for emotional reassurance and complex cancer care, viewing video visits as acceptable mainly for routine follow ups. This study uniquely highlights the importance of human connection, proactive clinician communication, and tailored support, demonstrating that telehealth adoption depends heavily on patient experience, trust, and context—not just technology.

Community Impact

Together, these two approaches shed light on the utilization of telehealth in rural communities for cancer care. The first study identifies what predicts use, while the second explains how and why patients make those choices. Ultimately, these studies show that telehealth access isn’t just about technology—it's about people.

Patients – and by extension, the community - benefit by:

• Expanding broadband access in underserved areas

• Offering digital literacy workshops for patients and caregivers

• Encouraging providers to offer video visits consistently

• Supporting hybrid care options that mix video and in‑person appointments

By understanding both the human and technical sides of telehealth, we can work together to create more equitable cancer care for everyone.

What’s Next

The research team is continuing to explore how rural communities, older adults, and low‑income households can be better supported. Community partnerships, education programs, and technology investments will all play a role in shaping the future of care.

About The Studies

• “Impact of Broadband Availability and Digital Literacy on Video Telehealth Use Among Cancer Patients;” lead author Joshua Pritchett, M.D; supported by a Noaber Foundation Digital Health Award (J.C.P., P.S., T.C.H., C.A.P.); Wohlers Family Foundation Grant (T.C.H., J.C.P.); Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, through the Kern Scholar Program (J.C.P.). 
• “Barriers, Facilitators, and Attitudes Toward Telemedicine Adoption in Oncology: A Qualitative Study of Patients From Low-Broadband Areas;” lead author Pravesh Sharma, M.D.; supported by a Noaber Foundation (PI: P.S./C.A.P.) and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Grant No. UL1 TR002377 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS)