# Toward Technology Equity: Extending Telemedicine to Latino Patients with Type II Diabetes

> **NIH NIH K23** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2022 · $166,920

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Latinos are disproportionately affected by type II diabetes. They have an age-adjusted incidence rate of 9.7 per 1000
persons, nearly double the rate for non-Latino Whites. Once diagnosed with diabetes, Latinos experience worse
glycemic control and diabetes-related complications compared to non-Latino patients. These inequities are driven by
multiple interrelated biological, cultural, and social factors. In particular, a lack of access to consistent care and difficulty
navigating the healthcare system are critical drivers of these disparities. By extending care beyond the clinic,
telemedicine presents an opportunity to address these challenges. Telemedicine offers patients video and telephone
visits from remote settings. However, current implementation strategies have created significant gaps in telemedicine
access and use among Latinos, especially those who are limited English proficient (LEP). The goal of this K23 is to address
this critical need by evaluating how a culturally and linguistically tailored implementation strategy can increase
telemedicine use by Latino patients with diabetes. My central hypothesis is that by applying a human-centered design
approach supported by implementation science, we can improve telemedicine use, an important part of addressing
diabetes disparities. The proposed project will test the central hypothesis with the following 3 specific aims. Aim 1 will
evaluate existing electronic health record data, telemedicine platforms, and workflows to identify multilevel
contributors to telemedicine use gaps among Latino patients with diabetes. Aim 2 will engage stakeholders to develop a
multilevel, tailored intervention targeted at patients and clinicians to promote telemedicine use in the care of Latino
patients with diabetes. Aim 3 will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial of the multilevel, tailored intervention
among Latino patients with diabetes and their clinicians. Through an innovative application of human-centered design
and implementation science, this proposal addresses overlapping health information technology and diabetes disparities
among Latino patients, especially those who are LEP.
The proposed research is complemented by a rigorous training plan and a highly experienced mentorship team that will
ensure my transition to independence. The training plan focuses on mixed-effect logistic regression, implementation
science, human-centered design, and trial design. This proposal will form the basis for an R01 application centering on a
larger clinical trial testing the effect of the implementation intervention on clinical outcomes among Latino patients with
diabetes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10485248
- **Project number:** 5K23MD016439-02
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jorge A Rodriguez
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $166,920
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-08 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10485248

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10485248, Toward Technology Equity: Extending Telemedicine to Latino Patients with Type II Diabetes (5K23MD016439-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10485248. Licensed CC0.

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