OP145 Review Of eHealth Interventions For Improving Primary Healthcare In Low-Middle Income Countries

Abstract

Introduction

Web-based and mobile health interventions, also called eHealth, have significant potential to deliver cost effective, quality health care. The present review maps common eHealth technology solutions for primary healthcare by evaluating their safety, efficacy, and effectiveness, and the challenges associated with their implementation in low-middle income countries (LMIC) in the last ten years.

Methods

A search of various electronic database was conducted, including PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, to identify articles published between 2009 and 2019 that focused on the implementation of eHealth in the primary healthcare setting across LMICs. A total of 450 articles were screened and thirty-nine relevant articles were selected for review.

Results

The thirty-nine included studies were classified into the following four categories: (i) assessment of intervention effects (n = 26); (ii) cost-benefit analysis (n = 4); (iii) systematic review (n = 5); and (iv) conceptual exploration of eHealth interventions (n = 4). The eHealth studies covered three domains: (i) non-communicable diseases; (ii) reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health; and (iii) other health issues. The included eHealth technologies comprised mobile health (n = 27), telemedicine (n = 10), and information and communication technology (n = 2).

Conclusions

The majority of studies assessed eHealth technologies based on the following eight dimensions: safety, clinical effectiveness, technical aspects, acceptability, cost, ethical aspects, adaptability to local needs, and scalability. However, evidence on safety, cost effectiveness, and scalability were limited. The main implementation challenges identified were technology development and maintenance costs, the need for trained human resources, and acceptability among users. The methodologies and assessment frameworks of the studies were heterogeneous in nature, highlighting the need for a robust, standardized, and comprehensive framework for assessing eHealth technologies.