Introduction <p>Telemedicine has become a leading intervention for improving healthcare access and reducing the gap between older adults, pediatric patients, rural residents, and other underserved populations. However, issues, such as technological literacy, infrastructural problems, and usability limitations, must be overcome before support systems can be created for healthcare integration.</p> Method <p>A scoping review was carried out using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2024 have been extracted from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Telemedicine interventions and outcomes for these populations were included in the studies included in the scoping review. Data are thematically synthesized focusing on barriers, facilitators, and effectiveness.</p> Results <p>From 515 screened records, 45 studies made it to this review. Telemedicine promised to enhance healthcare access, have a better-managed chronic disease system, and save costs in all these populations. Sometimes, rural dwellers had to travel less, while older adults had improved adherence to their medications but not without some usability issues. Most children demonstrated significant improvements with chronic conditions and mental health support. From all these groups, typical barriers included limited digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, and cultural acceptance.</p> Conclusions <p>Telemedicine promises to close the gap between vulnerable people and uplift them so that they have both quality and equitable healthcare services. Once there is addressing of systemic barriers including technological interfaces and users' engagement, it would optimize this potential. Further research would be needed on intervention tailoring to improve adoption.</p>

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Telemedicine for specific populations: evaluating effectiveness and barriers in enhancing healthcare access and outcomes

  • Sayali Nalkar,
  • Alaka Chandak

摘要

Introduction

Telemedicine has become a leading intervention for improving healthcare access and reducing the gap between older adults, pediatric patients, rural residents, and other underserved populations. However, issues, such as technological literacy, infrastructural problems, and usability limitations, must be overcome before support systems can be created for healthcare integration.

Method

A scoping review was carried out using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2024 have been extracted from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Telemedicine interventions and outcomes for these populations were included in the studies included in the scoping review. Data are thematically synthesized focusing on barriers, facilitators, and effectiveness.

Results

From 515 screened records, 45 studies made it to this review. Telemedicine promised to enhance healthcare access, have a better-managed chronic disease system, and save costs in all these populations. Sometimes, rural dwellers had to travel less, while older adults had improved adherence to their medications but not without some usability issues. Most children demonstrated significant improvements with chronic conditions and mental health support. From all these groups, typical barriers included limited digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, and cultural acceptance.

Conclusions

Telemedicine promises to close the gap between vulnerable people and uplift them so that they have both quality and equitable healthcare services. Once there is addressing of systemic barriers including technological interfaces and users' engagement, it would optimize this potential. Further research would be needed on intervention tailoring to improve adoption.