1. Identification of Adverse Health Outcomes and Mortality Rates Associated with Telehealth Tools: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Author
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Yazan A. Al-Ajlouni, Giovanna Failla, Andriy Melnyk, Fidelia Cascini, Walter Ricciardi, and Ana Pantovic
- Subjects
Telemedicine ,050208 finance ,business.industry ,Telecare ,education ,05 social sciences ,Qualitative property ,Context (language use) ,Telehealth ,Checklist ,3. Good health ,Systematic review ,Nursing ,0502 economics and business ,Health care ,Medicine ,050207 economics ,business ,health care economics and organizations - Abstract
Telehealth (e.g., the delivery and facilitation of health and health-related services via telecommunications and digital communication technologies) has been evolving for the past two decades. Faced with a global pandemic in 2020, the healthcare world was forced to rapidly utilize telehealth platforms to be able to reduce COVID-19 transmission and continue providing healthcare to those who need it. This study aimed to identify the risk of adverse events associated with telehealth usage. A systematic literature review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines and checklist, using a variety of research databases. In both quantitative and qualitative data synthesis, we found encouraging evidence highlighting the safety of telehealth in comparison to traditional practice. Future research should focus on collecting data in a longer time context. This is necessary to continue monitoring the potential risks associated with its’ application, specific to the class of telehealth tool and to the patient population. The findings in the literature, synthesized in this review, can be utilized to direct interventional measures and policymaking to advance the utilization of telehealth. Funding: None to declare. Declaration of Interest: None to declare.
- Published
- 2021
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