
eHealth in TB clinical management
METHODS: A systematic search was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework in PubMed and Embase of articles published up to April 2021. Screening, extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent researchers. Studies evaluating an internet and/or mobile-based eHealth intervention with an impact on TB clinical management were included. Outcomes were organised following the five domains described in the WHO “Recommendations on Digital Interventions for Health System Strengthening” guideline.
RESULTS: Search strategy yielded 3,873 studies, and 89 full texts were finally included. eHealth tended to enhance screening, diagnosis and treatment indicators, while being cost-effective and acceptable to users. The main challenges concern hardware malfunction and software misuse.
CONCLUSION: This study offers a broad overview of the innovative field of eHealth applications in TB. Different studies implementing eHealth solutions consistently reported on benefits, but also on specific challenges. eHealth is a promising field of research and could enhance clinical management of TB.
Keywords: clinical; respiratory; telemedicine; tuberculosis
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Centrum Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands, Iasi Pulmonary Diseases University Hospital, Iasi, Romania 2: Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands 3: Tuberculosis Center Beatrixoord, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands, Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands 4: Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK 5: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Centrum Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands, Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Publication date: December 1, 2022
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