Telehealth use and Models for Geriatric Patients Since the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
Mehwish Ajaz
Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU), Pakistan.
Manel Bouchama
University of Algiers of Medical Science, Algeria.
Komal Naz Khalid
Shifa College of Medicine, Pakistan.
Madinah S. Usman *
Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine.
Md. Giass Uddin
Chittagong Medical College (CMC), Bangladesh.
Henry E. Alocha
David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Epiniah S. Choga
Caribbean Medical University, Curacao.
Daniel Kasho Williams
Windsor University School of Medicine, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Prerna Singh
J. J. M. Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India.
Maryam Sana
Khyber Medical College, Pakistan.
Chelsey Lawson
Caribbean Medical University, Curacao.
Olasumbo E. Fagbenle
Windsor University School of Medicine, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Adewale Mark Adedoyin
Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Nigeria.
Patrick Batti
American University of Antigua (AUA), Antigua and Barbuda.
Sahar Hassanain
Women Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: The gaps in geriatric care provision has become prominent with the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 pandemic). Despite the potential capability of the telehealth model to address the specific needs of geriatric patients, only a few geriatric guidelines have focused on the telehealth model during the pandemic. The following systematic review explores the current evidence of telehealth use and applications in geriatric care, which emerged post the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Three databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, were searched by three independent reviewers to identify relevant studies.
Results: Seven studies were included in this review; two focused on the effectiveness of telehealth, three focused on the experiences of patients and providers, and two focused on the use of telehealth. Telehealth did not underperform compared to traditional care models in terms of self-efficacy, patient convenience, reduction in deferred care, increased efficiency of healthcare delivery, reduced travel issues, and improved health education. However, common challenges were disparities in access in favor of urban, cognitively sound, and younger geriatric patients.
Conclusion: The current systematic review reported the latest evidence on telehealth use and access across geriatric care since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemedicine is gaining support from literature for being non-inferior to traditional healthcare methods, as observed in our findings.
Keywords: Geriatric, elderly, telehealth, telemedicine, COVID-19, model, strengths