Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics
BackgroundThe number of people with chronic diseases and the subsequent pressure on health care is increasing. eHealth technology for diagnostic testing can contribute to more efficient health care and lower workload. ObjectiveThis systematic review examines the a...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2022/1/e29303 |
| _version_ | 1797735407006253056 |
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| author | Anke Versluis Kyma Schnoor Niels H Chavannes Esther PWA Talboom-Kamp |
| author_facet | Anke Versluis Kyma Schnoor Niels H Chavannes Esther PWA Talboom-Kamp |
| author_sort | Anke Versluis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundThe number of people with chronic diseases and the subsequent pressure on health care is increasing. eHealth technology for diagnostic testing can contribute to more efficient health care and lower workload.
ObjectiveThis systematic review examines the available methods for direct web-based access for patients to diagnostic testing and results in the absence of a health care professional in primary care.
MethodsWe searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, Emcare, and Academic Search Premier databases in August 2019 and updated in July 2021. The included studies focused on direct patient access to web-based triage leading to diagnostic testing, self-sampling or testing, or web-based communication of test results. A total of 45 studies were included. The quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
ResultsMost studies had a quantitative descriptive design and discussed a combination of services. Diagnostic test services mainly focused on sexually transmitted infections. Overall, the use was high for web-based triage (3046/5000, >50%, who used a triage booked a test), for self-sampling or self-testing kits (83%), and the result service (85%). The acceptability of the test services was high, with 81% preferring home-based testing over clinic-based testing. There was a high rate of follow-up testing or treatment after a positive test (93%).
ConclusionsThe results show that direct access to testing and result services had high use rates, was positively evaluated, and led to high rates of follow-up treatment. More research on cost-effectiveness is needed to determine the potential for other diseases. Direct access to diagnostic testing can lower the threshold for testing in users, potentially increase efficiency, and lower the workload in primary care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:58:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f8820539faf46f99151f5b34a163e54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:58:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f8820539faf46f99151f5b34a163e542023-08-28T20:21:08ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712022-01-01241e2930310.2196/29303Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and DiagnosticsAnke Versluishttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9489-7925Kyma Schnoorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0265-8503Niels H Chavanneshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8607-9199Esther PWA Talboom-Kamphttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9917-9052 BackgroundThe number of people with chronic diseases and the subsequent pressure on health care is increasing. eHealth technology for diagnostic testing can contribute to more efficient health care and lower workload. ObjectiveThis systematic review examines the available methods for direct web-based access for patients to diagnostic testing and results in the absence of a health care professional in primary care. MethodsWe searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, Emcare, and Academic Search Premier databases in August 2019 and updated in July 2021. The included studies focused on direct patient access to web-based triage leading to diagnostic testing, self-sampling or testing, or web-based communication of test results. A total of 45 studies were included. The quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. ResultsMost studies had a quantitative descriptive design and discussed a combination of services. Diagnostic test services mainly focused on sexually transmitted infections. Overall, the use was high for web-based triage (3046/5000, >50%, who used a triage booked a test), for self-sampling or self-testing kits (83%), and the result service (85%). The acceptability of the test services was high, with 81% preferring home-based testing over clinic-based testing. There was a high rate of follow-up testing or treatment after a positive test (93%). ConclusionsThe results show that direct access to testing and result services had high use rates, was positively evaluated, and led to high rates of follow-up treatment. More research on cost-effectiveness is needed to determine the potential for other diseases. Direct access to diagnostic testing can lower the threshold for testing in users, potentially increase efficiency, and lower the workload in primary care.https://www.jmir.org/2022/1/e29303 |
| spellingShingle | Anke Versluis Kyma Schnoor Niels H Chavannes Esther PWA Talboom-Kamp Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics |
| title_full | Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics |
| title_fullStr | Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics |
| title_short | Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics |
| title_sort | direct access for patients to diagnostic testing and results using ehealth systematic review on ehealth and diagnostics |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2022/1/e29303 |
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