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. 2015 Feb;21(2):81-5.
doi: 10.1089/tmj.2014.0053. Epub 2014 Dec 4.

Cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies of telemedicine, electronic, and mobile health systems in the literature: a systematic review

Isabel de la Torre-Díez  1 , Miguel López-Coronado, Cesar Vaca, Jesús Saez Aguado, Carlos de Castro
Affiliations

Cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies of telemedicine, electronic, and mobile health systems in the literature: a systematic review

Isabel de la Torre-Díez et al. Telemed J E Health. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: A systematic review of cost-utility and cost-effectiveness research works of telemedicine, electronic health (e-health), and mobile health (m-health) systems in the literature is presented.

Materials and methods: Academic databases and systems such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore were searched, using different combinations of terms such as "cost-utility" OR "cost utility" AND "telemedicine," "cost-effectiveness" OR "cost effectiveness" AND "mobile health," etc. In the articles searched, there were no limitations in the publication date.

Results: The search identified 35 relevant works. Many of the articles were reviews of different studies. Seventy-nine percent concerned the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine systems in different specialties such as teleophthalmology, telecardiology, teledermatology, etc. More articles were found between 2000 and 2013. Cost-utility studies were done only for telemedicine systems.

Conclusions: There are few cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies for e-health and m-health systems in the literature. Some cost-effectiveness studies demonstrate that telemedicine can reduce the costs, but not all. Among the main limitations of the economic evaluations of telemedicine systems are the lack of randomized control trials, small sample sizes, and the absence of quality data and appropriate measures.

Keywords: business administration/economics; e-health; mobile health; telemedicine.

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Figures

<b>Fig. 1.</b>
Fig. 1.
Flowchart of the steps followed in this review.
<b>Fig. 2.</b>
Fig. 2.
Percentage of studies found.
<b>Fig. 3.</b>
Fig. 3.
Number of articles about cost-utility and cost-effectiveness in the literature using different scientific databases.
<b>Fig. 4.</b>
Fig. 4.
Number of articles in the review versus publication date.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. World Health Organization. Available at www.who.int (last accessed February20, 2014)
    1. Dávalos ME, French MT, Burdick AE, Simmons SC. Economic evaluation of telemedicine: Review of the literature and research guidelines for benefit–cost analysis. Telemed J E Health 2009;15:933–948 - PubMed
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    1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Guide to the methods of technology appraisal. Available at www.nice.org.uk/media/B52/A7/TAMethodsGuideUpdatedJune2008.pdf (last accessed April26, 2014) - PubMed

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