Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the COVID-19 pandemic, has had an enormous effect on conventional clinical practice. Telemedicine has emerged as critical to the provision of healthcare services when reducing the transmission of COVID-19 among patients, families, and clinicians. It has been an essential tool for continuing care for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been the link between socially distant patient contact. The aim of this perspective paper was to identify the strengths and limitations of technology-based care focusing on literature linked to patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We search PubMed and CINHAL Plus for grey literature and secondary research on LUTS and telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Publications dated between the year March 2020 and March 2021were searched. We gathered key specialist opinions in the field of LUTS from several countries around the world, including the countries that had been hit significantly with COVID-19. This perspective paper proposes that there is evidence to support the use of modern technology to facilitate continued healthcare services for patients with LUTS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine has been recognised a crucial digital tool for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up appointments during a time of social distancing. Although there are many advantages of telemedicine, the older adult population and those economically disadvantaged with technology may not benefit from technology-based healthcare. The available literature on telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be successful in the management of some patients with LUTS. It is certain that the COVID-19 pandemic has given telemedicine a significant drive for implementation now and in the immediate future. Robust data on long-term efficacy and safety of telemedicine is required to ensure there are governance protocols embedded when looking after patients with LUTS.
Highlights
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the COVID-19 pandemic [1] disrupted societies all over the world
The research questions, search procedure and inclusion and exclusion criteria are discussed below. This evidence-based perspective was guided by the following questions, what are the strengths and limitations of technology-based continuity of care for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)? What is the role of LUTS telemedicine in the future? What are the recommendations for quality assurance for long term use of telemedicine?
We decided to select all papers evaluating the use of telemedicine for patients diagnosed with LUTS
Summary
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the COVID-19 pandemic [1] disrupted societies all over the world. Social distancing forced changes in the delivery of care in outpatient services so as to balance provision against while minimising risk of viral transmission to patients and health care professionals [2] In these circumstances there is always a risk that what are perceived to be less pressing needs, such as the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and incontinence may be subordinated to more concerning problems such as cardiac disease with a COVID-19 diagnosis [3] or cancer treatment with adverse COVID-19 symptoms [4], as well as pre-existing respiratory diseases such as COPD in addition to COVID-19 [5].
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