The Effect of Telehealth on Hospital Services Use: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telehealth interventions, that is, health care provided over a distance using information and communication technology, are suggested as a solution to rising health care costs by reducing hospital service use. However, the extent to which this is possible is unclear.

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of telehealth on the use of hospital services, that is, (duration of) hospitalizations, and to compare the effects between telehealth types and health conditions.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception until April 2019. Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the effect of telehealth interventions on hospital service use compared with usual care were included. Risk of bias was asse

SUBMITTER: Peters GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8444037 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature