Telemedicine in the correctional setting: A scoping review

Abstract

Introduction The access healthcare services to inmates within correctional settings has generally been low and problematic due to specific nature of the prison setting. Telemedicine has been used as an alternative delivery mode. This study aimed to collate the current evidence related to the use of telemedicine to deliver health services within correctional settings. Methods A comprehensive search of seven databases – PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Informit, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO and Scopus, for peer-reviewed publications was conducted in April, 2018. Results Initial search identified 1147 articles. After review of the title and abstract, 36 articles were included in the final review. Of the included articles, 19 (53%) were published during the period of 2010-2018. Articles were predominantly from the USA ( n = 23; 64 %), France and Australia. There were 23 descriptive studies (64%), five costing studies (14%) five experimental studies (14%), two mixed methods (6%) and one qualitative study (3%). The experimental studies were predominantly focused on mental health services ( n = 4, 80%). The commonest telemedicine intervention used was synchronous videoconferencing ( n = 21, 58%), while eight articles (22%) described asynchronous interventions. Telemedicine interventions were mainly used for mental health ( n = 13), and ophthalmology ( n = 4) disciplines. Discussion In the right circumstances, telemedicine interventions within correctional settings seem to be a useful method in connecting inmates with essential health services.

To what extent is telehealth reported to be incorporated into undergraduate and postgraduate allied health curricula: A scoping review

“…It can be used to effectively perform consultations, assessments, interventions, education, and supervision of patients at home or in remote hospitals [ 6 ]. It can also broaden the access of services to disadvantaged populations, such as prisoners and remote patients, limit unnecessary travel time and reduce costs [ 7 , 8 ]. Patient selection and identification is key to determining whether telehealth is a safe and suitable option.…”

Improving care quality with prison telemedicine: The effects of context and multiplicity on successful implementation and use

“…19–22 We identified a recent scoping study on prison telemedicine, however we have reported a brief summary of our scoping review given that we included grey literature and no restriction on publication date. 23 A systematic literature search was undertaken (Supplementary Table 1) with records retrieved subject to title/abstract screen by two independent reviewers, followed by a full text analysis for inclusion in the review. The following databases were searched for literature for inclusion in this review: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and International Bibliography of the Social Sciences.…”

Telemedicine in ophthalmology in view of the emerging COVID-19 outbreak

“…Digital images were taken using a slit lamp, OCT, and a specular microscope [ 73 ]. A handheld slit lamp with recording capabilities was reported to assist in tele-diagnosing anterior segment conditions in a correctional setting in Australia [ 74 ]. Inflammatory diseases could also be remotely diagnosed as described by Schallhorn et al when a young American soldier deployed at sea on a US navy aircraft carrier was admitted to the clinic with complaints of acute eye redness.…”