This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of telemedicine (TM) in the primary care system in comparison with face-to-face (F2F) ordinary interventions. This study was conducted and reported in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement and the common practices in the field. Eligible articles were identified by a search of the MEDLINE bibliographical database, PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Scopus from 1st January 2010 up to 30th April 2023. Through database searching, a total of 862 entries were found. The eligibility of the remaining 17 full-text publications was evaluated. Seventeen articles passed the inclusion tests and were added to the research after a thorough evaluation. The current study offers proof that TM has the potential to be a useful tool for providing primary care services remotely. In addition to lowering healthcare expenses and increasing retention rates, TM can deliver equivalent patient results and satisfaction with F2F care.
Key words: Effectiveness, telemedicine, primary care, systematic review.
|
