Sara Pinto1, Sílvia Caldeira2, José Carlos Martins3. 1. Palliative Care, PhD student in Nursing Sciences Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto Portugal. 2. Bioethics Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Lisboa, Portugal. 3. Coordinator Professor Medical-Surgical Unit, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra Department of Human Sciences and Health, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal.
Abstract
AIM: To analyse the use of e-Health technologies and mobile apps in palliative care (PC). METHODS: Search on PubMed, using 'telemedicine', 'ehealth', 'mobile health', 'telecare', 'health information systems' and 'palliative care'. Original Portuguese, Spanish, French and English papers were included. Google Play and App Store (iOS) were searched for mobile apps using 'palliative care', 'medical apps' and 'symptom management'. RESULTS: Twenty-five papers and forty mobile apps were analysed. Teleconsultation is the principal e-Health technology. Mobile apps focus on communication, drugs, tools/clinical guidelines, hospice, symptom management and PC information. CONCLUSIONS: e-Health is an emergent topic in PC. Teleconsultation enhances communication among patients, families and PC teams, reinforces partnership and decreases the burden on families and use of the emergency services. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: e-Health technologies are a good strategy in PC but further research based on different methodological approaches is needed to promote evidence-based practice.
AIM: To analyse the use of e-Health technologies and mobile apps in palliative care (PC). METHODS: Search on PubMed, using 'telemedicine', 'ehealth', 'mobile health', 'telecare', 'health information systems' and 'palliative care'. Original Portuguese, Spanish, French and English papers were included. Google Play and App Store (iOS) were searched for mobile apps using 'palliative care', 'medical apps' and 'symptom management'. RESULTS: Twenty-five papers and forty mobile apps were analysed. Teleconsultation is the principal e-Health technology. Mobile apps focus on communication, drugs, tools/clinical guidelines, hospice, symptom management and PC information. CONCLUSIONS: e-Health is an emergent topic in PC. Teleconsultation enhances communication among patients, families and PC teams, reinforces partnership and decreases the burden on families and use of the emergency services. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: e-Health technologies are a good strategy in PC but further research based on different methodological approaches is needed to promote evidence-based practice.
Entities:
Keywords:
Comfort; Health information systems; Telemedicine
Authors: Jennifer Dickman Portz; Kelsey Ford; David B Bekelman; Rebecca S Boxer; Jean S Kutner; Sara Czaja; Kira Elsbernd; Sheana Bull Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2019-09-17 Impact factor: 2.947