Rational development of telehealth to support primary care respiratory medicine

Source:  Primary Care Respiratory Journal Volume 20 Issue 4 December 2011, pages 415-420

Follow this link for the abstract; link to full text pdf also available

Date of publication:  December 2011

Publication type:  Journal article

In a nutshell: Researchers in Scotland mapped the distribution of patients with asthma, COPD, lung cancer and obstructive sleep apnoea.  They then conducted interviews with health professionals to assess the individual and organisational capacities and attitudes likely to influence successful implementation ot telehealth services.

Length of publication:  6 pages

Preventative tele-health supported services for early stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial pilot

Source: Trials

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Follow this link for the full-text

Date of publication: 2011

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell:  The current evidence base to support technology adoption and implementation is limited and the resource implications for implementing tele-health in practice can be very high.  This describes a pilot study for a two arm, one site randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine the effect of tele-health monitoring on self-management, quality of life and patient satisfaction.  Patients discharged from one acute trust with a primary diagnosis of COPD agreed to receive community clinical support following discharge from acute care and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (a) Tele-health supported Community COPD Service; or (b) Usual Care.  Because the service is complex there was a need for significant changes to established working patterns and careful planning.

Length of publication:  10 pages

Acknowledgement: EMBASE

Telehealthcare for asthma

Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 10

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Date of publication: Oct 2010

Publication type: Systematic review

In a nutshell: The authors concluded that telehealthcare interventions are unlikely to result in clinically relevant improvements in health outcomes in those with relatively mild asthma, but they may have a role in those with more severe disease who are at high risk of hospital admission. Further trials evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a range of telehealthcare interventions are needed.

Length of publication:  84 page pdf