Sheila C Wang1, Yunghan Au, Jose L Ramirez-GarciaLuna, Lawrence Lee, Gregory K Berry. 1. Sheila C. Wang, MD, PhD, is Medical Resident, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Yunghan Au, PhD, MBA, is Vice President, Department of Medical Affairs, Swift Medical, Toronto, Ontario. At McGill University in Montreal, Jose L. Ramirez-GarciaLuna, MD, MSc, is a PhD candidate in experimental surgery, Faculty of Medicine; Lawrence Lee, MD, PhD, is Colon and Rectal Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery; and Gregory K. Berry, MDCM, MSEd, FRCSC, is Chief, Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopedic Surgery. Acknowledgments: Writing assistance for this manuscript was provided by Steen K. T. Ooi. The authors disclose that Dr Wang is a cofounder and Chief Medical Officer of Swift Medical; Dr Au is an employee of Swift Medical. No funding was provided for this work. The authors have disclosed no other financial relationships related to this article. Submitted May 23, 2019; accepted in revised form October 11, 2019.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical and scientific literature on remote monitoring and management of postsurgical wounds using smartphone applications (apps). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries were searched for relevant articles on patients who received surgery and were monitored postdischarge via an app. STUDY SELECTION: Articles were selected with the terms "mobile phones," "smartphones," "wounds," "monitor," and "patient preference." DATA EXTRACTION: The authors found 276 review articles related to telemedicine in wound care. Investigators reviewed the titles and abstracts of the search results and selected 83 articles that were relevant to the remote monitoring of wounds using smartphone apps. DATA SYNTHESIS: The topics explored in selected literature included smartphone app importance to telemedicine, benefits (medical and financial), app examples, and challenges in the context of wound monitoring and management. The authors identified several challenges and limitations that future studies in the field need to address. CONCLUSIONS: Remote monitoring and management of wounds using smartphone apps is a valuable technique to enhance the quality of and access to healthcare. However, although some patients may prefer this technology, some lack technological competence, limiting telemedicine's applicability. In addition, issues remain with the reliable interpretation of data collected through apps.
OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical and scientific literature on remote monitoring and management of postsurgical wounds using smartphone applications (apps). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries were searched for relevant articles on patients who received surgery and were monitored postdischarge via an app. STUDY SELECTION: Articles were selected with the terms "mobile phones," "smartphones," "wounds," "monitor," and "patient preference." DATA EXTRACTION: The authors found 276 review articles related to telemedicine in wound care. Investigators reviewed the titles and abstracts of the search results and selected 83 articles that were relevant to the remote monitoring of wounds using smartphone apps. DATA SYNTHESIS: The topics explored in selected literature included smartphone app importance to telemedicine, benefits (medical and financial), app examples, and challenges in the context of wound monitoring and management. The authors identified several challenges and limitations that future studies in the field need to address. CONCLUSIONS: Remote monitoring and management of wounds using smartphone apps is a valuable technique to enhance the quality of and access to healthcare. However, although some patients may prefer this technology, some lack technological competence, limiting telemedicine's applicability. In addition, issues remain with the reliable interpretation of data collected through apps.
Authors: Jose L Ramirez-GarciaLuna; Robert Bartlett; Jesus E Arriaga-Caballero; Robert D J Fraser; Gennadi Saiko Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2022-03-03 Impact factor: 4.566