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Cited by 73Telemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationTechnology Use by Older AdultsHealth, Technology, Consumer Behavior

Pre-experience Perceptions About Telemedicine Among African Americans and Latinos in South Central Los Angeles

Open access
George, Sheba M., Hamilton, Alison, Baker, Richard·2009·Telemedicine and e-Health
DOI 10.1089/tmj.2008.0152PMC PMC2956566
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Abstract

This study explores perceptions about telemedicine among urban underserved African American and Latino populations. Telemedicine has been advanced as a vehicle to increase access to specialty care among the urban underserved, yet little is known about its acceptability among these populations. We conducted 10 focus groups with African American and Latino participants (n = 87) in urban Los Angeles in order to explore perceptions about this novel type of care. We found that concerns about telemedicine varied between the two racial/ethnic groups. These findings have implications for important issues such as adoption of telemedicine, patient satisfaction, and doctor-patient interaction. It will be critical to consider perceptions of this healthcare innovation in the development of strategies to market and implement telemedicine among urban, underserved African American and Latino populations.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This qualitative focus-group study explored pre-experience perceptions of telemedicine among 87 African American and Latino participants in South Central Los Angeles. Both groups saw similar advantages, but African Americans expressed more concerns about the physical absence of the specialist, specialist qualifications, and privacy, while Latinos were generally more positive and less concerned about those issues.

Key findings

  • Across all 10 focus groups, both African Americans and Latinos identified similar advantages: reduced waiting time, immediate feedback on diagnosis and course of action, increased access to specialists, and increased access to multiple medical opinions; convenience for children and the elderly was also noted.
  • African Americans generally expressed concerns about (1) the physical absence of the physician specialist, (2) the ability to monitor the specialist’s qualifications, and (3) privacy/confidentiality issues related to personal information on the Internet.
  • Latinos were substantially less concerned about those issues and in some cases felt differently; they expressed concerns about whether telemedicine would be made accessible to the uninsured, and both groups expressed concerns about the adequacy of the scopes to accurately diagnose medical conditions.
  • Latinos seemed overall more positive and enthusiastic; in 3 of the 5 Latino focus groups, participants raised greater accuracy of diagnoses due to the precision of computers. There were no noteworthy differences between seniors and young parents.

Methods

  • Qualitative study using 10 focus groups with African American and Latino participants (n = 87) in South Central Los Angeles; 49% (n = 43) were African American and 51% (n = 44) were Latino. Participants were recruited via flyers in English and Spanish at community centers and public housing sites and included parents of school-aged children and seniors.
  • After informed consent, participants discussed what “telemedicine” meant to them, then watched a brief video dramatization of a patient receiving ear pain care via telemedicine (Spanish version for the five Latino groups), followed by a semistructured focus group interview.
  • Transcripts were analyzed with Atlas.ti; Spanish transcripts were professionally translated into English. Coding was initially deductive using interview-script themes, then more inductive, with iterative team identification and interpretation of key themes.

Limitations

  • The paper states: a relatively small convenience sample that is not statistically representative of the wider inner-city population; lack of randomization may affect generalizability to all African American and Latino populations.
  • The paper states: for most participants, the only information about telemedicine came from the video shown, which clearly shaped their understanding and reactions.
  • The paper states: focus group data are stronger when triangulated with other sources, but in-depth interviews or surveys were not possible given the pilot nature of the study. Evident from the text: the study captures pre-experience perceptions only, not actual telemedicine use or adoption, and the reasons for racial/ethnic differences were beyond the article’s scope.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1089/tmj.2008.0152

Cites

12 of 12 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

2 of 17 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation
    § Introduction · p. 1

    Racial/ethnic minorities and persons who are socioeconomically disadvantaged face significant barriers to receiving basic healthcare.

    “It is well documented that racial/ethnic minorities and persons who are socioeconomically disadvantaged face significant barriers to receiving basic healthcare.3-6”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [3] source

      The “Racism and Health: Direct Effects” section reports that Black patients were less likely than white patients to receive a broad range of medical procedures, supporting the racial-disparity portion of the claim. The passages do not establish comparable barriers to basic healthcare for socioeconomically disadvantaged people generally. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [4] source
    • cites [5] 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [6] source
  • Findingown data
    § Abstract · p. 1

    Concerns about telemedicine varied between African American and Latino participants.

    “We found that concerns about telemedicine varied between the two racial/ethnic groups.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · p. 3 · plain
      “there were notable differences in the types of concerns they had about it”
    • Also stated in: § Discussion · p. 5 · plain
      “they had distinctly different types and levels of concern about telemedicine.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § TELEMEDICINE-RELATED CONCERNS · p. 4

    Both African American and Latino participants expressed concerns about the adequacy of the scopes to accurately diagnose their medical condition.

    “Both groups also expressed concerns about the adequacy of the scopes to accurately diagnose their medical condition.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § ADVANTAGES OF TELEMEDICINE · p. 4

    The idea of the precision of computers was raised in three of the five Latino focus groups.

    “This idea of the precision of computers was raised in three of the five Latino focus groups.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § PRE-EXPERIENCE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT TELEMEDICINE · p. 5

    Some participants in both sets of focus groups discussed the possibility that the computer could go down or the system could fail.

    “some participants in both sets of groups discussed the possibility that the computer could go down or the system could fail.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 15
  • May combine two claims. 7
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction · p. 1

    African Americans and Latinos make up the largest proportion of the minority populations who experience the most severe and concentrated types of health disparities.

    “African Americans and Latinos make up the largest proportion of the minority populations who experience the most severe and concentrated types of health disparities.3-5”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [3] source

      The RACE, SES, AND HEALTH section reports substantially higher overall mortality for African Americans and higher Hispanic mortality for diabetes, cirrhosis, and HIV/AIDS. It also says overall Hispanic mortality is lower than white mortality, and it does not establish that African Americans and Latinos make up the largest proportion of minority populations or jointly experience the most severe health disparities. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [4] source
    • cites [5] 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § TELEMEDICINE-RELATED CONCERNS · p. 4

    Latino participants were substantially less concerned about the physical absence of the physician, monitoring specialist qualifications, and privacy/confidentiality issues than African Americans.

    “While the Latino participants were substantially less concerned about these issues and in some cases felt very differently about them”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data
    § ADVANTAGES OF TELEMEDICINE · p. 4

    Telemedicine's potential convenience in terms of logistics and access for children and the elderly was appealing to both African American and Latino participants.

    “Telemedicine's potential convenience in terms of these issues and in terms of logistics (such as location) was very appealing to both African American and Latino participants.”
    • Also stated in: § ADVANTAGES OF TELEMEDICINE · p. 4 · plain
      “participants expressed interest in telemedicine because they thought that such clinics would provide easier access to care for children and the elderly.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data
    § ADVANTAGES OF TELEMEDICINE · p. 4

    Latino participants noted additional advantages and seemed overall more positive and enthusiastic about telemedicine than African American participants.

    “Latino participants also noted several additional advantages and seemed, overall, more positive and enthusiastic about the prospect of telemedicine.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given
    § Discussion · p. 5

    African Americans tended to identify more concerns and fewer advantages whereas Latinos had the opposite tendency.

    “African Americans tended to identify more concerns and fewer advantages whereas Latinos had the opposite tendency.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § PRE-EXPERIENCE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT TELEMEDICINE · p. 5

    Latino participants seemed more assured that privacy would be protected, or at least were not as concerned that privacy could not be guaranteed, compared to African American participants.

    “In contrast to the African American participants, Latino participants seemed more assured that privacy would be protected, or at least they were not as concerned that privacy could not be guaranteed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction · p. 1

    In a rare study of an urban urgent care dermatology clinic, while patients generally reported high levels of satisfaction, 36% of the study sample expressed self-consciousness around the camera and 17% were uncomfortable having facial pictures taken.

    “In a rare study of an urban urgent care dermatology clinic, while patients generally reported high levels of satisfaction, 36% of the study sample expressed self-consciousness around the camera and 17% were uncomfortable having facial pictures taken.10”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [10] source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § Limitations · p. 5

    The lack of randomization may affect the generalizability of the findings to all African American and Latino populations.

    “The lack of randomization may affect the generalizability of our findings to all African American and Latino populations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § Data Analysis · p. 3

    Themes were summarized and discussed by the research team.

    “These themes were summarized and discussed by the research team”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § Discussion · p. 5

    This is the first study, to the authors' knowledge, that examines perceptions about telemedicine among urban underserved minority populations.

    “This is the first study, to our knowledge, that examines perceptions about telemedicine among urban underserved minority populations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data
    § Data Analysis · p. 3

    Key themes and theoretical insights were identified and interpreted collaboratively by the authors.

    “key themes and theoretical insights were identified and interpreted collaboratively by the authors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction · p. 1

    Much of the disparity in health is thought to be due to lack of timely access to appropriate healthcare.

    “Much of this disparity in health is thought to be due to lack of timely access to appropriate healthcare.6”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § Introduction · p. 1

    South Central Los Angeles serves as a prime example of an inner city setting.

    “South Central Los Angeles serves as a prime example of such an inner city setting, making it an excellent location for a case study.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning
    § Limitations · p. 5

    Triangulation of the focus group data through in-depth and survey interviews was not possible.

    “triangulation of these data through in-depth and survey interviews was not possible.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § Data Analysis · p. 3

    Spanish-language transcripts were translated into English by a professional transcription and translation agency.

    “all Spanish-language transcripts were translated into English by a professional transcription and translation agency.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction · p. 2

    In one of the few studies about receptivity to telemedicine technology among an elderly minority population sample, participants were most open to technology when it could be used to improve communication with medical personnel, particularly in a medical emergency and least open when technology, such as a camera, could be used to check on the participant's status.

    “In one of the few studies about receptivity to telemedicine technology among an elderly minority population sample, participants were most open to technology when it could be used to improve communication with medical personnel, particularly in a medical emergency and least open when technology, such as a camera, could be used to check on the participant's status.12”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Bertera EM, 2007, J Telemed Telecare source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § Discussion · p. 5

    Telemedicine appears to provide relatively instant solutions to transportation to specialist care, lack of timely access to specialists, lack of timely diagnoses and feedback, and lack of multiple opinions in a specialist-scarce zone.

    “telemedicine appears to provide some relatively instant solutions to issues such as the challenge of transportation to get to specialist care, lack of timely access to specialists, lack of timely diagnoses and feedback, and lack of multiple opinions in a specialist-scarce zone.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Advantages of healthcare innovation are usually assessed by potential users relative to their current experiences of receiving care.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § Data Analysis · p. 3

    Transcripts were reviewed for accuracy.

    “Transcripts were reviewed for accuracy”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § Introduction · p. 1

    Telemedicine has the capacity to decrease the healthcare gap by increasing access to services for medically underserved communities.

    “Theoretically, telemedicine has the capacity to decrease the healthcare gap by increasing access to services for these communities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction · p. 1

    Remote rural communities have been the primary beneficiaries of telemedicine implementation.

    “Accordingly, remote rural communities have been the primary beneficiaries of telemedicine implementation.'”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § Introduction · p. 1

    Telemedicine has the potential to redress the healthcare delivery problems of the inner city.

    “Although telemedicine has the potential to redress the healthcare delivery problems of the inner city”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
21 of 21

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Advantages of healthcare innovation are usually assessed by potential users relative to their current experiences of receiving care.

    “The advantages of any healthcare innovation are usually assessed by potential users relative to their current experiences of receiving care.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Pre-experience perceptions will potentially shape people's initial decision to try telemedicine and the contexts in which they are likely to use telemedicine services.

    “Such pre-experience perceptions will potentially shape people's initial decision to try this new technology and the contexts in which they are likely to use telemedicine services.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The video portrayed telemedicine in a typical setting with a typical health problem.

    “While we tried to portray telemedicine in a typical setting with a typical health problem”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Limited access to appropriate medical care, particularly specialty care, is a major challenge for inner city communities.

    “However, limited access to appropriate medical care, particularly specialty care, is a major challenge for inner city communities as well.”
4 of 4

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Chang BL, 2004, JAMIA, 11, 448
  2. 2002, Unequal treatment: Confronting racial and ehical dsparities in health care
  3. 2007, The health of the residents in south service planning area of Los Angeles County

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
George, S. M., Hamilton, A., & Baker, R.
Affiliations
  • Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
George, Sheba M.
ORCID
Baker, Richard
Venue
Telemedicine and e-Health
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2009-07
Volume
15
Issue
6
Pages
525-530
ISSN
  • 1530-5627 (ISSN-L)
  • 1556-3669
DOI
10.1089/tmj.2008.0152
PMC
PMC2956566
OpenAlex
W2040158435
Semantic Scholar
aa876786e2c2467b9708db2dacf5802d8cfb27d7
Cited by
73
References
12
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.liebertpub.com/nv/resources-tools/text-and-data-mining-policy/121/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Telemedicine Journal and e-Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
  • National Institutes of Health (4p20md000182-15, 5p20md000148-05)
  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (1r24hs014022-01a1)
  • National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (P20MD000182)
  • National Center for Research Resources (G12 RR 03026, G12RR003026)
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (P20-MD000148, P20-MD000182)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Health, Technology, Consumer Behavior
Keywords
telemedicine, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, underserved populations, patient perspectives, access to specialist care, racial and ethnic differences, telehealth adoption, patient satisfaction, doctor-patient interaction, urban health disparities, South Los Angeles
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Black or African American, Health Services Accessibility, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Physician-Patient Relations, Los Angeles, Patient Satisfaction, Focus Groups, Telemedicine

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

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Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-24.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

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