Telemedicine and Mobile Health Technology Are Effective in the Management of Digestive Diseases: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Telemedicine and mobile health technology may be effective in managing disease activity and improving quality of life in digestive diseases. Future studies should explore both gastrointestinal and gastroesophageal diseases using these types of interventions.

MyHealthyGut: Findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial on adherence to a gluten-free diet and quality of life among adults with celiac disease or gluten intolerance

“…Medication and medical adherence have been found to improve following mHealth interventions in patients with digestive diseases such as IBD. 7,24 Adherence is especially important in digestive disease populations because these patients often have higher non-adherence rates compared to other chronic conditions, 7 and compliance with disease management protocols is an important predictor of positive long-term outcomes (i.e., reduced frequency of disease relapse). 24 It follows that increases in QoL scores often parallel successful disease management.…”

“…[4][5][6] mHealth technology can help patients adhere and comply with treatment, manage symptoms and medication, and monitor disease activity. 7 Findings from multiple studies have revealed that participants report more self-monitoring and better adherence to a weight management and/or dietary intervention when delivered via a smartphone app or personal digital assistant compared to a website or paper diary. [8][9][10][11] Wang et al 6 reported that patients who used smartphone apps felt secure knowing that their illness was closely monitored and were able to participate in their health management, and it gave them the feeling that they were well taken care of outside of the clinical setting and not forgotten by their doctors.…”

“…15 A recent systematic assessment of mobile apps specifically for self-management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) concluded that although apps may be a useful adjunct to IBD management, there is room for improvement in apps, specifically more focus on the inclusion of evidence-based guidelines. 16 Building on the previous systematic review on IBD, Helsel et al 7 conducted a systematic review of mHealth interventions (mobile phones, computers, and webbased tools) that included patients with IBD, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colorectal cancer. They looked at a variety of outcomes, and the results were promising, with patient compliance (measured using factors such as medical and medication adherence, completed symptom diaries, and questionnaires) ranging from 25% to 100% among the various trials.…”

“…Findings from numerous studies show disease improvement as measured by symptom severity scales and physiological biomarkers, and in some, general and disease-specific quality of life (QoL) improved with mHealth interventions in as little as 12 weeks. 7 mHealth and management of celiac disease Celiac disease is a genetically based autoimmune condition that affects approximately 1% of the general population worldwide and is characterized by a range of physical (i.e., gastrointestinal, weight loss, abdominal distention, fatigue, migraines, and body pain) and psychological (e.g., depression, anxiety) symptoms. 17 Social issues should also be counted in the burden of illness, as many patients expressed concern regarding the impact of celiac disease on socialization and having to abstain from important things in life.…”

Presenting a Model for Telemedicine in Earthquake for Iran

“…High-speed telecommunications systems and the invention of devices capable of capturing and transmitting images in digital form had main roles in development [4] . Not only using proper hardware and software is essential, but we also need expert users [5]. There are four factors for prospering telemedicine: therapists' motivation, proper infrastructure, ongoing investment, and technical support [6].…”