Abstract

Objectives: Video-based telehealth may expand access to mental health services among older veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD). We examined the modalities through which mental health services were rendered, and predictors of video visits before and after video-enabled tablet receipt from the Veterans Health Administration.Method: 11,210 veterans aged 60 or older with a diagnosis of AUD who received a tablet between 1 April 2020 and 25 October 2021 were identified. The electronic health record was used to characterized encounters by modality of mental health care delivery in the sixmonths pre/post tablet receipt. Logistic regression examined predictors of a video visit for mental health.Results: Phone was the most common modality; however, the proportion of video encounters increased from 8.7% to 26.2% after tablet receipt. Individuals who were older, male, and had more physical health conditions, were less likely to have a video visit. Individuals who were married, resided in urban areas, had a history of housing instability, and had more mental health conditions, were more likely to have a video visit.Conclusion: Video-enabled tablets may help older adults with AUD overcome access barriers to mental health services, although targeted support for certain groups may be necessary.

View details for DOI 10.1080/13607863.2023.2253448

View details for PubMedID 37723897