“Easier Than Carrying Around a Computer and a 7-Week-Old”: Exploring Patients’ Reasons for Selection of Telehealth Modality for Contraceptive Counseling [ID 1538]

INTRODUCTION: Many reproductive health services are offered via telehealth, with video and telephone-based options. We conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study to explore reasons patients chose telephone for their contraceptive counseling visit. METHODS: Patients at a Title X-funded clinic selected their counseling modality (in person or telehealth via Zoom or telephone) when scheduling an appointment for contraception. After counseling, they completed a survey. We compared patients’ reasons for choosing telehealth and comfort with Zoom using bivariate analyses. We inductively coded patients’ free-text responses for why they chose telephone for their visit. RESULTS: From March 2021 to June 2022, 146 patients completed contraceptive counseling and the survey: 44 (30%) video; 102 (70%) telephone. Respondents chose telehealth for similar reasons including convenience and work/school conflicts. Compared to patients choosing telephone, patients choosing video were more likely to already use Zoom for work/school (93.0% versus 69.9%, P =.002) and more likely to be extremely comfortable with Zoom (76.7% versus 57.0%, P =.03). Less than 20% of patients choosing telephone cited a technological barrier to using video. Common themes for choosing phone included convenience, caring for children, not worrying about appearance, multitasking, completing the visit in transit, and that a camera was not necessary for a counseling appointment. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: When given the option, many patients choose telephone for a telehealth appointment, rarely due to technological barriers. Telehealth visits on the telephone may be more conducive to patients’ lifestyle and their preferences. Offering this option for appropriate appointments may improve patients’ satisfaction with their care.