Abstract
Background: Telemedicine in Egypt has shown sustainability while opening a way for more engagement in healthcare. This systematic review examines the use of telemedicine and its impact on Egyptians, focusing on the limited internet accessibility in Egypt.
Methods: An exhaustive search was conducted in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases, specifically in the years 2015–2024, to obtain valid articles. Studies were investigated within the framework of pre-designed inclusion criteria, which helped in the identification of 10 articles specific to the report. The JBI checklist was explored to improve the performance of these studies, and narrative synthesis was employed to compile the findings in textual form.
Results: The analysis identified five main themes: telemedicine knowledge and attitudes, usage by the public and healthcare practitioners, implementation barriers, impact on patient care, and community led monitoring. Despite the Egyptian community having positive attitudes towards telemedicine, barriers such as technology limitations, data privacy concerns, and reliance on physical wards for diagnosis remain. Private hospitals are more equipped than government facilities, affecting implementation. While challenges exist, telemedicine has the potential to improve patient care by increasing convenience and reducing wait times.
Conclusion: Telemedicine can enhance healthcare in Egypt by improving access and patient outcomes. However, success depends on overcoming obstacles such as policy development and institutional capacity. Policymakers must create governance standards, invest in infrastructure, and improve training.
Methods: An exhaustive search was conducted in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases, specifically in the years 2015–2024, to obtain valid articles. Studies were investigated within the framework of pre-designed inclusion criteria, which helped in the identification of 10 articles specific to the report. The JBI checklist was explored to improve the performance of these studies, and narrative synthesis was employed to compile the findings in textual form.
Results: The analysis identified five main themes: telemedicine knowledge and attitudes, usage by the public and healthcare practitioners, implementation barriers, impact on patient care, and community led monitoring. Despite the Egyptian community having positive attitudes towards telemedicine, barriers such as technology limitations, data privacy concerns, and reliance on physical wards for diagnosis remain. Private hospitals are more equipped than government facilities, affecting implementation. While challenges exist, telemedicine has the potential to improve patient care by increasing convenience and reducing wait times.
Conclusion: Telemedicine can enhance healthcare in Egypt by improving access and patient outcomes. However, success depends on overcoming obstacles such as policy development and institutional capacity. Policymakers must create governance standards, invest in infrastructure, and improve training.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Online Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (VoR) - 25 Mar 2025 |