What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the patterns of telemedicine use among different sociodemographic groups in surgical oncology clinics.

February 16, 2026npj Digital Medicine0 citationsOpen Access

Distance-stratified sociodemographic differences in telemedicine use in surgical oncology clinics at an academic medical center

VPVijaya ParameswaranPalo Alto University STSean TsungStanford University YZYan ZengRhode Island Department of Health

Key Points

To examine the patterns of telemedicine use among different sociodemographic groups in surgical oncology clinics.
Analyzed telemedicine usage across 38,883 surgical oncology visits from 2021-2023 at a cancer center in Northern California.
Identified sociodemographic groups based on distance from clinics.
Evaluated telemedicine use based on distance stratification.
Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, interpreter-needing, and Medicaid patients had lower telemedicine use at distances ≥20 miles.
Low-income patients showed higher telemedicine utilization (OR = 1.67).
At distances <20 miles, Asian/Pacific Islanders demonstrated higher telemedicine use (OR = 1.16).

Abstract

We examined telemedicine use across 38,883 surgical oncology visits (2021-2023) at a Northern California cancer center. At ≥20 miles from clinics, Hispanic (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.68,0.85), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.66,0.84), interpreter-needing (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.59,0.77), and Medicaid patients (OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.76,0.96) had lower telemedicine use, while low-income patients showed higher utilization (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.46,1.91). At <20 miles, no differences were observed for Hispanic, interpreter-needing, Medicaid, or low-income patients, but Asian/Pacific Islanders showed higher use (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.30). Geographic distance modifies telemedicine access patterns.

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