Sarah M Smith1, Jonathan Henry W Jacobsen1, Alvin P Atlas1, Adeel Khoja1,2, Joshua G Kovoor1,2, David R Tivey1,3, Wendy J Babidge1,3, Bridget Clancy4, Erica Jacobson5, Christine O'Neill6,7,8, John B North9, Roxanne Wu10, Guy J Maddern1,3, Mark Frydenberg11,12. 1. Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 2. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 3. Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 4. Department of Surgery, St. John of God Warrnambool Hospital, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia. 5. Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. 6. Surgical Services, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 7. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 8. Cancer and Public Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 9. Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Queensland Audit of Surgical Mortality, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 10. Department of Surgery, Cairns Private Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. 11. Department of Urology, Cabrini Institute, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 12. Department of Surgery, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Telehealth use has increased worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hands-on requirements of surgical care may have resulted in slower implementation. This umbrella review (review of systematic reviews) evaluated the perceptions, safety and implementation of telehealth services in surgery, and telehealth usage in Australia between 2020 and 2021. METHODS: PubMed was searched from 2015 to 2021 for systematic reviews evaluating real-time telehealth modalities in surgery. Outcomes of interest were patient and provider satisfaction, safety, and barriers and facilitators associated with its use. Study quality was appraised using the AMSTAR 2 tool. A working group of surgeons provided insights into the clinical relevance to telehealth in surgical practice of the evidence collated. RESULTS: From 2025 identified studies, 17 were included, which were of low to moderate risk of bias. Patient and provider satisfaction with telehealth was high. Time savings, decreased healthcare resource use and lower costs were reported as key advantages of the service. Inability to perform comprehensive examinations was noted as the primary barrier. In Australia, peak telehealth usage coincided with the introduction of temporary telehealth services and increased lockdown measures. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and providers are broadly satisfied with telehealth and its benefits. Barriers may be overcome via multidisciplinary collaboration. Telehealth may benefit surgical care long-term if implemented correctly both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
BACKGROUND: Telehealth use has increased worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hands-on requirements of surgical care may have resulted in slower implementation. This umbrella review (review of systematic reviews) evaluated the perceptions, safety and implementation of telehealth services in surgery, and telehealth usage in Australia between 2020 and 2021. METHODS: PubMed was searched from 2015 to 2021 for systematic reviews evaluating real-time telehealth modalities in surgery. Outcomes of interest were patient and provider satisfaction, safety, and barriers and facilitators associated with its use. Study quality was appraised using the AMSTAR 2 tool. A working group of surgeons provided insights into the clinical relevance to telehealth in surgical practice of the evidence collated. RESULTS: From 2025 identified studies, 17 were included, which were of low to moderate risk of bias. Patient and provider satisfaction with telehealth was high. Time savings, decreased healthcare resource use and lower costs were reported as key advantages of the service. Inability to perform comprehensive examinations was noted as the primary barrier. In Australia, peak telehealth usage coincided with the introduction of temporary telehealth services and increased lockdown measures. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and providers are broadly satisfied with telehealth and its benefits. Barriers may be overcome via multidisciplinary collaboration. Telehealth may benefit surgical care long-term if implemented correctly both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.