Telehealth and telemedicine projections in the post-covid-19 era. A scoping review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/dm2025633Keywords:
Telemedicine, Telehealth, Pandemic, Covid-19Abstract
Introduction: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine and telehealth faced legal, technological, and cultural regulatory limitations. The health crisis boosted its massive adoption, enhancing its continuity over time. The objective of this review is to determine the projections of telehealth and telemedicine in the post-COVID-19 era and the factors that condition its growth.
Methods: A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The databases consulted were PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. 19 relevant studies were selected from an initial total of 96.
Results: The pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, maintaining its use in areas such as mental health and chronic diseases. Factors associated with the use and development of technologies, added to cultural and economic aspects, have hindered its growth.
Conclusions: Telehealth and telemedicine have improved access to health, but their sustainability requires resolving technological inequalities, in addition to guaranteeing privacy and security standards.
References
1. Ftouni R, AlJardali B, Hamdanieh M, Ftouni L, Salem N. Challenges of Telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:01/03/2025];22(1):207. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-01952-0
2. Liu J, Wang M, Liu S. Telemedicine and COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of western China hospital. Stud Health Technol Inform [Internet] 2024 [Accessed: 01/03/2025];310:1556–7. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/SHTI231291
3. Olorunsogo TO, Balogun OD, Ayo-Farai O, Ogundairo O, Maduka CP, Okongwu CC, et al. Reviewing the evolution of U. S. telemedicine post-pandemic by analyzing its growth, acceptability, and challenges in remote healthcare delivery during Global Health Crises. World J Bio Pharm Health Sci [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:01/03/2025];17(1):075–90. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2024.17.1.0010
4. Fu H, Cheng TC, Zhan J, Xu D, Yip W. Dynamic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for telemedicine services: Evidence from China. J Econ Behav Organ [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:01/03/2025];220:531–57. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.02.015
5. Aban YKC, Abunto JV, Aliorde JVEP, Benson NCM, Figueroa ERU, Masiddo JAD, et al. The rise of telemedicine in the Philippines during COVID-19: A systematic review of utilization trends and patient outcomes. Philippine Social Science Journal [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:03/03/2025];6(4):9–18. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.52006/main.v6i4.876
6. Portnoy J, Waller M, Elliott T. Telemedicine in the era of COVID-19. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract [Internet] 2020 [Accesseed:03/03/2025];8(5):1489–91. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2020.03.008
7. Omboni S, Padwal RS, Alessa T, Benczúr B, Green BB, Hubbard I, et al. The worldwide impact of telemedicine during COVID-19: current evidence and recommendations for the future. Connect Health [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:13/01/2025];1:7–35. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ch.2021.03
8. Aslani N, Garavand A. The role of telemedicine to control CoVID-19. Arch Clin Infect Dis [Internet] 2020 [Accesseed:13/01/2025] ;15(COVID-19). Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.5812/archcid.102949
9. Greenwood H, Krzyzaniak N, Peiris R, Clark J, Scott AM, Cardona M, et al. Telehealth versus face-to-face psychotherapy for less common mental health conditions: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JMIR Ment Health [Intetnet] 2022 [Accesseed:13/01/2025];9(3):e31780. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/31780
10.Zangani C, Ostinelli EG, Smith KA, Hong JSW, Macdonald O, Reen G, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global delivery of mental health services and telemental health: Systematic review. JMIR Ment Health [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:29/12/2024];9(8):e38600. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/38600
11. Colbert GB, Venegas-Vera AV, Lerma EV. Utility of telemedicine in the COVID-19 era. Rev Cardiovasc Med [Internet] 2020 [Accesseed:13/01/2025];21(4):583–7. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm.2020.04.188
12. Ftouni R, AlJardali B, Hamdanieh M, Ftouni L, Salem N. Challenges of Telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:13/01/2025];22(1):207. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-01952-0
13. Sharma A, Pruthi M, Sageena G. Adoption of telehealth technologies: an approach to improving healthcare system. Transl Med Commun [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:20/01/2025];7(1):20. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41231-022-00125-5
14. Solimini R, Busardò FP, Gibelli F, Sirignano A, Ricci G. Ethical and legal challenges of telemedicine in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Medicina (Kaunas) [Internet] 2021 [Accesseed:20/01/2025];57(12):1314. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/medicina57121314
15. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. Declaración PRISMA 2020: una guía actualizada para la publicación de revisiones sistemáticas. Rev Esp Cardiol [Internet] 2021 [Accesseed:15/10/2024];74(9):790–9. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.recesp.2021.06.016
16.Sánchez-Serrano S, Pedraza-Navarro I, Donoso-González M. ¿Cómo hacer una revisión sistemática siguiendo el protocolo PRISMA?: Usos y estrategias fundamentales para su aplicación en el ámbito educativo a través de un caso práctico. Bordón Rev Pedagog [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:16/10/2024];74(3):51–66. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.13042/bordon.2022.95090
17.Ashley C, Williams A, Dennis S, McInnes S, Zwar NA, Morgan M, et al. Telehealth‘s future in Australian primary health care: a qualitative study exploring lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. BJGP Open [Internet] 2023 [Accesseed:16/01/2025];7(2):BJGPO.2022.0117. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgpo.2022.0117
18.ALsharif AH. Attitudes of patients with chronic diseases toward management eHealth applications systems in post-COVID-19 times. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:16/01/2025];19(7):4289. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074289
19.Aldekhyyel RN, Alshuaibi F, Alsaaid O, Bin Moammar F, Alanazy T, Namshah A, et al. Exploring behavioral intention to use telemedicine services post COVID-19: a cross sectional study in Saudi Arabia. Front Public Health [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:16/01/2025];12:1385713. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1385713
20.Adler-Milstein J, Gopalan A, Huang J, Toretsky C, Reed M. Patterns of telemedicine use in primary care for people with dementia in the post-pandemic period. J Gen Intern Med [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:16/01/2025];39:2895-2903. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11606-024-08836-1
21.Yu L, Liu Y-C, Cornelius SL, Scodari BT, Brooks GA, O’Malley AJ, et al. Telehealth use following COVID-19 within patient-sharing physician networks at a rural comprehensive cancer Center: Cross-sectional analysis. JMIR Cancer. 2023;9:e42334. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/42334
22.Pongiglione B, Carrone F, Angelucci A, Mazziotti G, Compagni A. Patient characteristics associated with the acceptability of teleconsultation: a retrospective study of osteoporotic patients post-COVID-19. BMC Health Serv Res [Internet] 2023 [Accesseed:16/01/2025];23(1):230. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09224-x
23.Poitras M-E, Poirier M-D, Couturier Y, T Vaillancourt V, Cormier C, Gauthier G, et al. Chronic conditions patient’s perception of post-COVID-19 pandemic teleconsulting continuation in primary care clinics: a qualitative descriptive study. BMJ Open [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];12(12):e066871. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066871
24.Naghdi R, Nguyen G, Vazquez CM, Antonio CM, Cabrera C, Chandra A, et al. Assessing health care professionals’ mindset in adopting telemedicine post COVID-19: Pilot questionnaire study. JMIR Form Res [Internet] 2023 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];7:e44806. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/44806
25.El Naamani K, Abbas R, Mukhtar S, El Fadel O, Sathe A, Kazan AS, et al. Telemedicine during and post-COVID 19: The insights of neurosurgery patients and physicians. J Clin Neurosci [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];99:204–11. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2022.03.006
26.Mayaka RK, Awuonda MK, Ettienne E, Daftary M, Wingate L, Unonu J. A cross-sectional survey on the post-pandemic acceptability of pharmacist-delivered telehealth services among HCV-HIV patients. Inquiry [Internet] 2023 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];60:469580231171338. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00469580231171338
27.Masongo C, Daire J, Estai M, Gebauer D, Smith L, Chih H. Barriers and willingness to continue using telehealth services beyond the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia: A mixed-method study. Healthcare (Basel) [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];12(20). Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12202086
28.Marson JW, Chen RM, Ahmad M, Litchman GH, Perkins S, Rigel DS. Teledermatology platforms usage and barriers: A cross-sectional analysis of United States-based dermatologists pre- and post-COVID-19. J Drugs Dermatol [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];23(2):e64–6. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.36849/JDD.7819
29.Marson J, Ahmad M, Litchman G, Zakria D, Perkins S, Rigel D. Characteristic distinctions between pre-/post-COVID-19 teledermatology adoptees: A cross-sectional United States-based analysis and the implications for dermatologic healthcare equity. J Drugs Dermatol [Internet] 2023 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];22(1):101–4. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.36849/JDD.7169
30.Lee ML, Wei EX, Kandathil C, Most SP. Telehealth usage in otolaryngology: A comparative study pre- and post-COVID-19. OTO Open [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];8(1):e109. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/oto2.109
31.Lantheaume S, Doublet L, Mory J-E, Durand T, Lebosse W, Heudel P-E. A qualitative study of teleconsultation practices among French oncologists in a post-COVID-19 period. Digit Health [Internet] 2023 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];9. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/20552076231215906
32.Kim Y, Ortega MV, Acker R, Valentine KD, Ayati E, Von Bargen E. Synchronous telemedicine model in urogynecology: Are patients willing to continue telemedicine in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era? Urogynecology (Hagerstown) [Internet] 2022 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];28(10):679–86. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SPV.0000000000001223
33.Shih KK, Arechiga AB, Chen X, Urbauer DL, De Moraes AR, Rodriguez AJ, et al. Telehealth preferences among patients with advanced cancer in the post COVID-19 vaccine era. J Pain Symptom Manage [Internet] 2024 [Accesseed:18/01/2025];67(6):525-534.e1. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.02.572
34.Chimonas S, Lipitz-Snyderman A, Spiegelhoff Z, Chakraborty N, Seier K, White C, et al. Persistence of telemedicine usage for breast and prostate cancer after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancers (Basel) [Internet] 2023 [Accesseed:05/02/2025];15(20). Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers15204961
35.Bates T, Spray B, Canon S. Telemedicine preferences in pediatric urology following the COVID-19 pandemic: A caregiver survey. Front Urol [Intetnet] 2023 [Accesseed:05/03/2025];3. Available in: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fruro.2023.994540
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Marcela Hechenleitner-Carvallo, Jacqueline Ibarra-Peso (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.
