The disparity of utilization rate among specific groups for a rapid spreading telehealth application called LEBER during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to describe the social demographics and chief complaints of users of a free medical consultation application in Ibaraki Prefecture, where a free medical consultation application was released.

Methods: The present study included users of a telehealth application in Ibaraki Prefecture between April 9 and May 17, 2020, during the state of emergency. User background characteristics were descriptively analyzed to clarify individual factors with the potential to act as barriers to equally using innovative solutions. Additionally, the age and consultation time distribution by sex were examined for those who used the application for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 issues.

Results: Most of the participants were in their thirties. Moreover, 72% were female, with most being in their thirties (86%) and the least being in their sixties (45%). The number of consultations was concentrated between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., with the least between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The telehealth application users were mainly females in their thirties and forties.

Conclusions: To prevent the widening of health disparities due to the rapid introduction of telehealth, further research is required to identify why the use of the application did not spread beyond the aforementioned user groups.