Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Healthcare Delivery: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction:

The adoption of telemedicine not only has implications for patient accessibility but also plays a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of healthcare delivery systems. The aim of the review is to provide a nuanced understanding of the effectiveness of telemedicine, taking into account not only its proven advantages but also the barriers that warrant careful consideration for sustainable and equitable implementation.

Methods:

A systematic search strategy utilized Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free-text keywords, employing Boolean operators to refine the search across major databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria prioritized English-language research articles and systematic reviews, focusing on telemedicine interventions' impact on patient outcomes, healthcare accessibility, and system efficiency, with an emphasis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and diverse population studies. The two-step screening process, involving independent assessment of titles/abstracts and subsequent full-text review, ensured the inclusion of relevant and high-quality studies, maintaining a systematic and transparent approach to enhance the review's reliability and validity.

Results:

This systematic review incorporated 11 interventional studies, with sample sizes ranging from 298 to 3,290 participants, providing a thorough examination of telemedicine's effectiveness in healthcare delivery. The diverse interventions, including teleconsultations, mobile health applications, and remote patient monitoring, targeted urban and rural settings, addressing various medical conditions. The findings indicated a significant 24% reduction in hospital readmission rates, a 22% increase in patient satisfaction, and a 14% decrease in adverse events with telehealth interventions, emphasizing their potential in enhancing healthcare accessibility and optimizing delivery systems.

Conclusions:

The systematic review confirms the positive impact of telehealth interventions on healthcare delivery, aligning with existing medical literature and contributing to a growing body of evidence, while also highlighting identified limitations that emphasize the necessity for further research, standardized study designs, and consideration of diverse populations to enhance the generalizability and robustness of future telehealth interventions.