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Cited by 463Telemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationHealthcare Systems and TechnologyPrimary Care and Health Outcomes

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 37 of the 37 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Telemedicine versus face to face patient care: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes

Currell, Rosemary, Urquhart, Christine, Wainwright, Paul, Lewis, Ruth·2000·Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
DOI 10.1002/14651858.cd002098
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technology for medical diagnosis and patient care. From its beginnings telemedicine has been used in a variety of health care fields, although widespread interest among healthcare providers has only now become apparent with the development of more sophisticated technology. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of telemedicine as an alternative to face-to-face patient care. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group's specialised register, The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (1966-August 1999), EMBASE (to 1996), Cinahl (to August 1999), Inspec (to August 1996), Healthstar (1983-1996), OCLC, Sigle (to 1999), Assia, SCI (1981-1997), SSCI (1981-1997), DHSS-Data. We hand searched the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare (1995-1999), Telemedicine Journal (1995-1999) and reference lists of articles. We also hand searched conference proceedings and contacted experts in countries identified as having an interest in telemedicine. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials, controlled before and after studies and interrupted time series comparing telemedicine with face-to-face patient care. The participants were qualified health professionals and patients receiving care through telemedicine. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: Seven trials involving more than 800 people were included. One trial was concerned with telemedicine in the emergency department, one with video-consultations between primary health care and the hospital outpatients department, and the remainder were concerned with the provision of home care or patient self-monitoring of chronic disease. The studies appeared to be well conducted, although patient numbers were small in all but one. Although none of the studies showed any detrimental effects from the interventions, neither did they show unequivocal benefits and the findings did not constitute evidence of the safety of telemedicine. None of the studies included formal economic analysis. All the technological aspects of the interventions appear to have been reliable, and to have been well accepted by patients. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Establishing systems for patient care using telecommunications technologies is feasible, but there is little evidence of clinical benefits. The studies provided variable and inconclusive results for other outcomes such as psychological measures, and no analysable data about the cost effectiveness of telemedicine systems. The review demonstrates the need for further research and the fact that it is feasible to carry out randomised trials of telemedicine applications. Policy makers should be cautious about recommending increased use and investment in unevaluated technologies.

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Crossref · 10.1002/14651858.cd002098

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37 of 37 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Hastings, 1976, Primary nurse practitioners and telemedicine in prison care: an evaluation
  2. Watson, 1990, Management of preterm labor patients at home: does uterine activity monitoring and nursing support make a difference?, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 76, (Suppl) 32S-35S
  3. Bashshur, 1975, Telemedicine: explorations in the use of telecommunications in heatlh care
  4. Bashshur, 1980, Technology serves the people: the story of a co-operative telemedicine project by NASA, the Indian Health Service and the Papago people
  5. 1997, Telemedicine report to Congress
  6. Scannell, 1995, Telemedicine: past, present, future. Current bibliographies in medicine
  7. Wootton, 1995, TeleMed 95: medicine on the superhighway, November 8-9, London

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Metadata

Authors
Currell, R., Urquhart, C., Wainwright, P., & Lewis, R.
Affiliations
  • Swansea University (GB)
  • Aberystwyth University (GB)
  • St George's, University of London (GB)
  • Cardiff University (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Published
2000-04-24
Volume
97
Issue
2
Pages
35-35
ISSN
1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1002/14651858.cd002098
OpenAlex
W1955171727
Cited by
463
References
37
Citations by year
2025: 5 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 26
Type
reference entry
Language
en
Update notices
new_version (2015-09-07)
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Healthcare Systems and Technology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Primary Care and Health Outcomes
Keywords
telemedicine, home care, video consultation, health care outcomes, professional practice, patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, feasibility, patient acceptance of technology, psychological outcomes, patient involvement in treatment decisions, patient-centered care
MeSH terms
Communication, Humans, Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care, Physician-Patient Relations, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Telemedicine

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