HIV Patients in Asia-Pacific Use Telehealth Services

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access and delivery of essential care worldwide. Gilead Sciences surveyed people living with HIV (PLHIV) and individuals at risk (IARs) in the Asia Pacific to look at changes in the motivations and use of telehealth services.

HIV Telehealth Services

The results of the regional study were based on responses from 1,531 respondents, including 787 PLHIV and 744 IARs, in nine Asian Pacific nations and territories (Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam) between June and September 2022. The purpose of the survey was to learn more about how HIV telehealth services could be enhanced from the viewpoint of PLHIV and IARs. It expands on the findings of the initial Gilead HIV Pulse Survey, which found that 64% of IAR and 56% of PLHIV had no access to telemedicine services with their doctors. Since then, an examination of the responses from 2022 has revealed that:

Increase in the usage of telehealth services:

Across the region, more than half of PLHIV (56%) and IARs (54%) asked said they had increased their usage of telehealth services in the previous year, however, the rate of increase varied greatly between nations/territories. For both PLHIV (71%) and IARs (83%), the Philippines saw the largest growth, followed by Vietnam and Malaysia.

Convenience, flexibility, and better access:

The availability of new services introduced during the COVID-19 crisis was responsible for the rise in telehealth utilization. Convenience, flexibility, and better access to additional HIV information where the top three reasons why respondents began using telemedicine.

Data privacy concerns:

Nearly half of PLHIV and roughly a third of IARs were worried about data privacy issues. Almost half (47%) of IARs felt uncomfortable using telehealth services because there was no in-person contact.

Reliable information:

Online HIV prevention and care programs run by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and local HIV community organizations were rated as the most reliable sources by one in three respondents. In a time of pervasive misinformation, reliable providers must improve the telehealth services they offer.

Telehealth for HIV Services

“UNAIDS’ call to action for World AIDS Day 2022 is EQUALIZE, which is why the results of this survey are timely to demonstrate where and how the use of telehealth has grown across the Asia Pacific. If telehealth use is going to remain high beyond the COVID-19 crisis, we need to ensure equity of access,” said Caroline Choi, Senior Director and Medical Affairs Asia 5 Lead, Gilead Sciences. “Not only do HCPs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) need to implement innovative forms of care, such as providing e-prescriptions, but healthcare systems must also adapt to the needs of patients when modernizing HIV services.”

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“The pandemic has ushered in confidence for the public to be an active participant in managing their health,” said Sumita Banerjee, Executive Director, of Action for AIDS (AfA) Singapore. “In the context of HIV, telehealth services that have been endorsed and approved by relevant authorities may provide additional support to existing services to retain PLHIV in care. The study provides insights to understand the expectations that PLHIV and key populations have from using such a service.”

“With stigma still, unfortunately, a barrier for some PLHIV and IARs seeking high-quality medical help and advice, it is important to note that at present, telehealth is not a silver bullet. It is clear from this survey that two-way communications with HCPs or CBOs are especially important for those on antiretroviral therapy (ART) which could help improve their adherence to medicine,” said Dr. Julian Ng, Deputy CEO of DTAP Clinic Pte Ltd. “This is an opportunity for telehealth providers to further tailor their online services to give patients what they want and what they need.”

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Source-Medindia