Telemedicine and mHealth Applications for Health Monitoring in Rural Communities in Colombia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine and mHealth applications constitute a central pillar in the digital transformation of healthcare. OBJECTIVE: To describe the efficacy, applicability, and impact of telemedicine and mHealth applications on the monitoring and improvement of health in rural communities in Colombia. METHODS: This research was carried out as a systematic review, a type of study that allows for a thorough and replicable evaluation of the existing literature in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and ERIC. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies were included, which encompassed different types of research designs: two case-control studies, two randomized trials, four cross-sectional studies, two qualitative investigations, one consensus study, one retrospective cohort study, and two reviews. The sample size varied significantly among the studies, from 16 participants in the consensus study to 313,897 patients in one of the cross-sectional studies. CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine and mHealth applications are transforming the way medical care is delivered to rural communities in Colombia. These tools have proven to be valuable in improving the detection and management of chronic diseases such as cognitive decline and cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, the implementation of these technologies has shown to be effective in improving the quality of medical care, providing greater access to specialized medical services, and reducing the sense of isolation among health professionals in rural areas.