Digital services as alternative for in-person visits among clients with long-term illnesses

Abstract Background For individuals managing long-term illnesses and often requiring complex care across health and social care sectors, the transition to digital platforms holds considerable potential to facilitate management of one’s health. This study examined factors among people with long-term illnesses associated with their perception that digital services had replaced in-person visits in health and social care. Methods A total of 11,012 Finnish residents with long-term illnesses necessitating regular care (56% female, mean age 56.9, SE .23) responded to a nationwide population survey between September 2022 and March 2023. The Inverse Probability Weighting method was used to correct for bias. Complex samples binary logistic regression was used to examine whether factors related to self-rated health, distress, digital skills and perceived benefits of digital services were associated with the replacement of in-person visits by digital services. The model was adjusted for age, gender, education, and urbanicity. Results Approximately one third (35.8%) of the respondents indicated that the use of digital services had replaced in-person visits within the past 12 months. Respondents in poor or moderate health (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.34) had greater odds of reporting the replacement compared to those in good health. Those with proficient digital skills (OR 1.84, 1.57-2.14) and those perceiving more benefits in digital services (OR 1.56, 1.47-1.74) had greater odds of reporting of the replacement compared to their counterparts. Conclusions Transition to digital services could facilitate access to care for individuals with long-term illnesses perceiving their health poorer. Promoting digital skills and perceptions of benefits of digital services can significantly increase the use of digital services as substitutes of in-person visits and contribute to more efficient allocation of health and social care resources. Key messages • Especially those reporting poorer health seem to use digital services as replacements of in-person visits, offering the potential to optimize resource utilization in health and social services. • Promotion of digital skills and perceptions of the benefits of digital services could increase the use of digital services as replacements for traditional visits with health and social professionals.