Telemedicine in diabetic eye care: A meta-analysis of its effectiveness in underserved populations
1 Park University, Kansas City, Missouri USA.
2 OSV Group Inc, Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
Review
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2024, 17(03), 131–139.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2024.17.3.0104
Publication history:
Received on 19 January 2024; revised on 29 February 2024; accepted on 02 March 2024
Abstract:
Telemedicine has emerged as a promising tool in diabetic eye care, particularly for underserved populations facing barriers to accessing traditional healthcare services. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine interventions in managing diabetic eye conditions within underserved communities. Through a systematic review of existing literature, encompassing diverse telemedicine approaches such as remote screening, teleconsultation, and telemonitoring. These studies were conducted across various regions with underserved populations, including rural areas, low-income urban neighborhoods, and underserved ethnic groups. The meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in several key outcome measures. Firstly, telemedicine interventions led to increased rates of early detection of diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic eye complications, facilitating timely intervention and preventing progression to more severe stages of the disease. Secondly, telemedicine facilitated better access to specialist care, overcoming geographical barriers and reducing the burden of travel for patients. Thirdly, telemedicine interventions were associated with improved patient compliance with follow-up appointments and treatment regimens, leading to better long-term management of diabetic eye conditions. Moreover, subgroup analyses revealed that telemedicine was particularly effective in reaching vulnerable populations such as elderly individuals, those with limited mobility, and ethnic minorities, thereby addressing disparities in healthcare access. Telemedicine holds great promise as an effective tool for diabetic eye care in underserved populations, offering a scalable and cost-effective approach to improving access to timely screening, diagnosis, and management of diabetic eye conditions. Further research and implementation efforts are warranted to optimize telemedicine interventions and ensure equitable access to quality eye care for all.
Keywords:
Telemedicine; Eye care; Meta-Analysis: Underserved Population; Review
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0