title: [Varying effect of telemedicine in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--a systematic review].
abstract: A systematic review of existing evidence on the efficiency of telemedicine solutions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was performed. A systematic literature search was conducted in five relevant databases followed by evaluation of methodology and results in selected studies. Nine RCT trials of varying quality were identified. The selected studies were mostly multimodal with telemedicine as part of a more complex intervention. Benefits of using telemedicine solutions for patients with COPD are not yet clear, but in some multimodal studies with telemedicine as part of the solution a positive effect on hospital admissions, emergency room visits and contacts to primary care may be seen. Larger studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Telemedicinsk Forskningsenhed, Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57-59, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. asj@frh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Anna Svarre
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: Lars Christian
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.forename: Lone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schou
authors.forename: Chistina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emme
authors.forename: Klaus Viengpheth
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Phanareth
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods