Home-based telehealth: a review and meta-analysis

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review to identify studies on the effect of home telehealth on clinical care outcomes. The search was restricted to peer-reviewed publications (published between 2001 and 2007) about studies conducted in home or residential settings. The search yielded 154 potential articles and dissertations. A total of 29 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in a meta-analysis. The weighted mean effect size for the overall meta-analysis was 0.50, and the z-statistic was 3.0, indicating that telehealth had a moderate, positive and significant effect (P < or = 0.01) on clinical outcomes. Subanalyses also indicated positive significant effects of telehealth for some disease categories (heart disease and psychiatric conditions), but not others (diabetes), patient populations and telehealth interventions. Overall, the meta-analysis indicated that telehealth positively affects clinical outcomes of care, even in different patient populations.

Pilot study to develop telehealth tinnitus management for persons with and without traumatic brain injury

“…Note that, increasingly, studies are showing the efficacy of using telehealth delivery of various mental health interventions [59][60]. A meta-analysis of 29 home-based telehealth studies revealed an overall positive effect on clinical outcomes in diverse patient populations [61]. The current follow-up study will more definitively assess outcomes of the PTM telehealth intervention.…”

Web-Based Self-Management for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Practical, Randomized Trial

“…Since this study was initiated, several reports have suggested that there are barriers to patients with MS actively engaging in health promotion 20 and self-care decision making. 21 Additionally, several recent studies indicate interactive selfmanagement interventions that involve clinical staff as active partners who engage participants in goal-setting, monitoring, and education produce better results 22,23 ; the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has suggested such an approach. 24 As our system does not involve direct patient-clinician interaction, our findings support these studies.…”

Editors' Note

“…Historically, Home Based Telehealth (HBT) was focused on remote monitoring, and more recently has been used to enhance management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure, preliminary research suggests HBT service delivery is associated with high patient satisfaction, reduced frequency and duration of inpatient hospital stays, and overall symptom improvement [7][8][9]. Although these preliminary data are promising, administrators and clinical providers have been reluctant to apply HBT service models to mental health interventions, citing concerns that HBT via video-conferencing may compromise therapeutic alliance, patient safety and confidentiality [10], issues addressed directly by the articles in this section.…”