| Title | The opportunities and challenges of telemedicine during COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Authors | Gareev, I; Gallyametdinov, A; Beylerli, O; Valitov, E; Alyshov, A; Pavlov, V; Izmailov, A; Zhao, S |
| Journal | Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition) |
| Publication Date | 20 Dec 2021 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 24 Dec 2021 |
| Abstract | At the end of 2019, patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology appeared in the city of Wuhan (China). After a short time, this infection affected not only the people of China but also the whole world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the disease a pandemic. A viral agent was identified - severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the disease itself was named "2019 novel coronavirus infection" (COVID-19). Telemedicine technologies are a form of medical care and training that can counteract the spread of a COVID-19 epidemic by eliminating direct contact of both medical workers with patients and medical workers and patients with each other. Lack of personal protective equipment, the suspension of clinical clerkship and supervision, and a reduction in the number of elective surgical cases inevitably affect medical and surgical education. Interesting solutions using virtual learning, video conferencing, social media, and telemedicine could effectively address the sudden discontinuation of medical education. In fact, it is currently the ideal combination of teleworking and study. Telemedicine can play an important role in this pandemic by minimizing the spread of the virus, leveraging healthcare providers' time, and alleviating the challenges of medical education. The aim of this study was to identify the role of telemedicine services in the management and controlling of diseases as well as on medical education during the COVID-19 outbreak. |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.52586/E885 |
| Title | Implementation and Usefulness of Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review. |
| Authors | Hincapié, MA; Gallego, JC; Gempeler, A; Piñeros, JA; Nasner, D; Escobar, MF |
| Journal | Journal of primary care & community health |
| Publication Date | 1 Dec 2020 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 11 Dec 2020 |
| Abstract | Identify and summarize the available literature on the acceleration in the use of telemedicine in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an aim to provide justification and guidance for its implementation to overcome the limitations associated with the pandemic worldwide. We conducted a scoping review through different search strategies in MEDLINE and Google Scholar to identify the available literature reporting data on implementation and usefulness of various modalities of telemedicine during the current pandemic. We summarized the included studies according to field and mode of implementation in a narrative way. We included 45 studies that fulfilled selection criteria. About 38% of the studies were conducted in the United States of America (USA), followed by 15.5% in India and 15.5% in China. Most studies (73%) were cross-sectional studies based on historical records. All publications were written in English with the exception of 1 studied published in Spanish. The majority of reports focused on use of telemedicine for outpatient care, followed by in-hospital care. The COVID-19 pandemic has promoted the use of telemedicine, a tool that has transformed the provision of medical services. Several modes of implementation are useful to overcome difficulties for patient care during the pandemic. Its benefits are specific to different fields of medical practice. Such benefits, along with the guidance and reported experiences should invite health systems to work for an effective and comprehensive implementation of telemedicine in various fields. |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.1177/2150132720980612 |
| Title | Use of Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review. |
| Authors | Doraiswamy, S; Abraham, A; Mamtani, R; Cheema, S |
| Journal | Journal of medical Internet research |
| Publication Date | 1 Dec 2020 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 5 Nov 2020 |
| Abstract | With over 37.8 million cases and over 1 million deaths worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a societal and economic upheaval of unparalleled magnitude. A positive transformation has been brought about by innovative solutions in the health care sector that aim to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on human health. For instance, the use of telehealth has been on the rise amidst this public health emergency. Given the unprecedented scale of the pandemic with no definitive endpoint, we aimed to scope the existing telehealth-related literature during a defined period of the ongoing pandemic (ie, January to June 2020). Our scoping review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer Manual. We systematically searched PubMed and Embase databases with specific eligibility criteria. Data extracted from the shortlisted articles included first author and affiliation, journal title, publication type, terminologies used to describe telehealth and their accompanying definitions, health discipline or medical specialties and subspecialties wherein telehealth had been applied, the purpose of telehealth use, and the authors' overall sentiment on telehealth use. We collated the available information and used descriptive statistics to analyze the synthesized data. In all, 543 articles published across 331 different journals were included in this scoping review. The Journal of Medical Internet Research and its sister journals featured the highest number of articles (25/543, 4.6%). Nearly all (533/543, 98.2%) articles were in English. The majority of the articles were opinions, commentaries, and perspectives (333/543, 61.3%). Most authors of the articles reviewed were from high-income countries (470/543, 86.6%), especially from the United States of America (237/543, 43.6%). In all, 39 different definitions were used to describe terms equivalent to telehealth. A small percentage (42/543, 7.7%) of the articles focused on the provision of COVID-19-related care. Moreover, 49.7% (270/543) of the articles primarily focused on the provision of multiple components of clinical care, and 23% (125/543) of the articles focused on various specialties and subspecialties of internal medicine. For a vast majority (461/543, 84.9%) of the articles, the authors expressed a celebratory sentiment about the use of telehealth. This review identified considerable emerging literature on telehealth during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, albeit mostly from high-income countries. There is compelling evidence to suggest that telehealth may have a significant effect on advancing health care in the future. However, the feasibility and application of telehealth in resource-limited settings and low- and middle-income countries must be established to avail its potential and transform health care for the world's population. Given the rapidity with which telehealth is advancing, a global consensus on definitions, boundaries, protocols, monitoring, evaluation, and data privacy is urgently needed. |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.2196/24087 |
| Title | Digital health and COVID-19. |
| Authors | |
| Journal | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| Publication Date | 1 Nov 2020 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 13 Nov 2020 |
| Abstract | The novel coronavirus pandemic is increasing demand for digital health in primary care delivery, highlighting the progress being made and the challenges still faced. Gary Humphreys reports. |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.021120 |
| Title | Digital Health Strategies to Fight COVID-19 Worldwide: Challenges, Recommendations, and a Call for Papers. |
| Authors | Fagherazzi, G; Goetzinger, C; Rashid, MA; Aguayo, GA; Huiart, L |
| Journal | Journal of medical Internet research |
| Publication Date | 16 Jun 2020 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 6 Jun 2020 |
| Abstract | The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has created an urgent need for coordinated mechanisms to respond to the outbreak across health sectors, and digital health solutions have been identified as promising approaches to address this challenge. This editorial discusses the current situation regarding digital health solutions to fight COVID-19 as well as the challenges and ethical hurdles to broad and long-term implementation of these solutions. To decrease the risk of infection, telemedicine has been used as a successful health care model in both emergency and primary care. Official communication plans should promote facile and diverse channels to inform people about the pandemic and to avoid rumors and reduce threats to public health. Social media platforms such as Twitter and Google Trends analyses are highly beneficial to model pandemic trends as well as to monitor the evolution of patients' symptoms or public reaction to the pandemic over time. However, acceptability of digital solutions may face challenges due to potential conflicts with users' cultural, moral, and religious backgrounds. Digital tools can provide collective public health benefits; however, they may be intrusive and can erode individual freedoms or leave vulnerable populations behind. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the strong potential of various digital health solutions that have been tested during the crisis. More concerted measures should be implemented to ensure that future digital health initiatives will have a greater impact on the epidemic and meet the most strategic needs to ease the life of people who are at the forefront of the crisis. |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.2196/19284 |
| Title | Digital health and care in pandemic times: impact of COVID-19. |
| Authors | Peek, N; Sujan, M; Scott, P |
| Journal | BMJ health & care informatics |
| Publication Date | 1 Jun 2020 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 23 Jun 2020 |
| Abstract | |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjhci-2020-100166 |
| Title | Asynchronous Telehealth. |
| Authors | Stephens, J; Greenberg, GM |
| Journal | Primary care |
| Publication Date | 1 Dec 2022 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 11 Nov 2022 |
| Abstract | Asynchronous telehealth provides a viable option for improving access in a convenient and timely manner to patients seeking care as well as for physicians seeking subspecialty consultation. Access to technology, clear guidelines, standards, and expectations is required for this innovation to function well. Limitations in access due to patient and technology factors is an area that requires attention. Positive impact on access and quality has been demonstrated. Rapid development continues and was enhanced with the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2022.05.004 |
| Title | The Adoption and Implementation of Digital Health Care in the Post-COVID-19 Era. |
| Authors | Mosnaim, GS; Stempel, H; Van Sickle, D; Stempel, DA |
| Journal | The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice |
| Publication Date | 1 Sep 2020 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 26 Jun 2020 |
| Abstract | |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2020.06.006 |
| Title | Increased importance of digital medicine and eHealth during the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| Authors | Thulesius, H |
| Journal | Scandinavian journal of primary health care |
| Publication Date | 1 Jun 2020 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 3 Jun 2020 |
| Abstract | |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.1080/02813432.2020.1770466 |
| Title | Editorial: Global Initiatives Support the Use and Regulation of Digital Health Technology During the COVID-19 Pandemic. |
| Authors | Parums, DV |
| Journal | Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research |
| Publication Date | 18 Oct 2021 |
| Date Added to PubMed | 19 Oct 2021 |
| Abstract | The development and use of digital health technology have increased during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital tools have been increasingly used to diagnose and screen for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Digital technology, in the form of mobile phone applications (apps), has been adopted by several countries to track infected individuals as infection prevention and surveillance measures. Global best practice guidelines, technology approvals, and patient care models have only recently begun to catch up with the developments in digital technology. In 2021, the WHO published a global strategy on digital health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) for 2020 to 2025. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) now evaluates software as a medical device (SaMD) and software that is in a medical device (SiMD) through the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF). This Editorial aims to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has driven global initiatives to support the use and regulation of digital health technology and the requirements for digital health evidence frameworks and new approaches to regulatory approvals. |
| Link | http://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.935123 |