Image of single young plant being watered

Investigating Health Care Hesitancy During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Project

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, rates for routine preventive care and chronic condition monitoring have dropped as efforts have increased to limit exposure and spread of the COVID-19 virus. After a period of closure, medical and dental care facilities are now open for visits, with protocols in place to limit transmission risk.

Although telemedicine use has increased, healthcare providers cannot adequately use it to monitor patients with chronic conditions; in addition, telemedicine cannot replace routine screening, immunizations, and other care provided in person. Without diagnostic tests, procedures, and in-person visits, it is likely that there will be a delay in diagnosis of cardiac events, cancerous polyps and tumors, and other medical issues. Furthermore, adults and children could miss routine or preventive care, such as vaccines, mammograms, and well child visits. Patients with chronic conditions who defer a visit may experience a flare-up of their illness.

The negative impact of deferred care will most greatly impact populations that are already underserved by the U.S. health care system: Blacks, Hispanics, individuals in rural areas, and lower income/uninsured individuals. This reduction in the use of primary care may exacerbate profound inequities.

The Study

Through administration of a national survey, researchers at AIR seek to understand and assess changes in individuals’ usage of medical and dental services before and after the public health emergency. We will explore factors that influence individuals’ willingness to seek routine monitoring or preventive care and closely examine underserved populations’ willingness to seek health care. In addition to collecting information about the individuals who complete the survey, we will collect information on the pandemic’s impact on seeking health care for children and adults under these individuals’ care. We will analyze the survey data with a focus on various subgroups such as race/ethnicity, individuals with elevated risk of suffering severe illness due to COVID-19, individuals who have lost their jobs during the public health emergency, and individuals who care for children and adults. 

In the longer term, we aim to understand the implications of hesitancy to seek routine care and will use these implications to inform the efforts of healthcare providers and dentists to reassure and encourage patients to seek in-person care.

Related Work

Infographic: 43% of respondents feel everyone should be required to get the vaccine
23 Mar 2021
In the Field

Understanding Patients’ Feelings on COVID-19 Vaccinations and Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

Despite promising vaccine trial data, some individuals, particularly Black Americans and people living in rural areas, remain hesitant to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A nationally representative survey from the American Institutes for Research provides additional data on how the public feels about vaccine access, prioritization, and requirements.
Infographic: 50% of respondents feel safer when patients and staff are required to wear a mask
16 Mar 2021
In the Field

What Health Care Providers Should Know about Patients’ Hesitancy to Seek in-Person Care

Considering the decline in preventive care services and the continuing pandemic, it is important that health care providers ensure that their patients understand the continued need for preventive care and the efforts health care providers and systems have taken to make health care seeking behavior safe. Because they have likely established trust with their patients, providers are best positioned to communicate when a patient should receive in-person care or whether telehealth is sufficient; AIR’s survey provides further insights.
Infographic: Health Care Hesitancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic Survey Results
14 Jan 2021
In the Field

How Willing Are People in the U.S. to Seek Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Besides the direct impact of COVID-19 on daily life, the pandemic has affected how individuals approach their personal health and well-being, including if and how they seek health care services.
View all