Abstract
Introduction Recent developments in the field of ICT may have an impact on telemedicine. This systematic review aims to evaluate the recent clinical trials of telemedicine in relation to store-and-forward, real time and remote monitoring methods. Method Articles were obtained from November 2007 to November 2009 using the MEDLINE database. Studies reported on clinical trials were included and those indicating the use of telephony, electrical equipment and feasibility studies were excluded. Articles were abstracted and grouped for various disciplines for analysis. Results There were three large sample Randomised Control Trials (RCTs), nine small sample RCTs, four prospective studies, three retrospective studies, one cohort study, four case control studies, and fifteen descriptive studies. The three large sample RCTs have been reported one each in neurology, diabetes and dermatology. Thirty nine articles selected were nine on neurology, four each on psychiatry, diabetes and cardiology, three each on ophthalmology and dermatology, two each on acute care, transplant and ENT and one each on child abuse, endoscopy, general practice, leprosy, nephrology and radiology. After further exclusion, rest of the 27 articles revealed that the outcome had improved in 41%, comparable in 15%, benefited in 33% and not enhanced in 11% when telemedicine was compared to conventional approaches. Conclusions Most of studies reported have revealed advantages of telemedicine against conventional methods of care. However further large sample randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these results. Keywords: Telemedicine, Clinical Trials DOI: 10.4038/sljbmi.v1i1.1481 Sri Lanka Journal of Bio-Medical Informatics 2009; 1 (1): 12-20
Highlights
Recent developments in the field of ICT may have an impact on telemedicine
Rest of the 27 articles revealed that the outcome had improved in 41%, comparable in 15%, benefited in 33% and not enhanced in 11% when telemedicine was compared to conventional approaches
Telemedicine is the use of information and communication technology to provide health care services to individuals who are at some distance from a selected health care provider [1]
Summary
Recent developments in the field of ICT may have an impact on telemedicine. This systematic review aims to evaluate the recent clinical trials of telemedicine in relation to store-and-forward, real time and remote monitoring methods. Telemedicine is the use of information and communication technology to provide health care services to individuals who are at some distance from a selected health care provider [1]. There are three major types of computer based telemedicine applications in terms of how the information is transferred: a. Store-and-forward method in which recorded data is transferred offline b. Real time method which involves online two way interactive videoconferencing c. Remote monitoring method in which patients are monitored at a distance which can either be hospital or home based. Telemedicine techniques have been adopted for various disciplines such as radiology, dermatology, cardiology, pathology, surgery, psychiatry, neurology, ophthalmology and
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