RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The environmental impacts of telemedicine in place of face-to-face patient care: a systematic review
JF Future Healthcare Journal
JO Future Healthc J
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 28
OP 33
DO 10.7861/fhj.2021-0148
VO 9
IS 1
A1 Ramyadevi Ravindrane
A1 Jay Patel
YR 2022
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/9/1/28.abstract
AB Background Health services have considerable environmental impacts through the production of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Changes to service provision are needed to mitigate these impacts. Telemedicine may be one tool to achieve this through reductions in travel.Methods A systematic literature review was conducted using four databases. The search was limited to original studies in English. Studies were critically appraised using a cross sectional and economic modelling tool. Results were extracted for environmental impacts of the telemedicine service. The reporting of this review is line with PRISMA guidelines.Results Out of 2,916 search results, 14 met full inclusion criteria. All 14 studies found an environmental benefit of telemedicine versus face-to-face consultations through reduced greenhouse gas emissions from travel. Three studies found there to be fewer greenhouse gas emissions through telemedicine consultations after accounting for greenhouse gas emissions from the use of telemedicine equipment.