Applications, benefits, and challenges of adopting teleurology: a scoping review

Abstract

Background: Urological diseases present substantial challenges for patients, including restricted access to specialized care, prolonged wait times, and geographical barriers, particularly in underserved and rural regions. Teleurology leverages telecommunication technologies to enable remote consultations, improve patient monitoring, and enhance access to specialized care. This scoping review aims to systematically examine the applications, benefits, and challenges associated with teleurology, offering a comprehensive analysis of its role in contemporary urological practice.

Methods: The PRISMA-ScR guidelines was followed to perform this scoping review. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering publications from 2010 until January 19, 2025. Two trained reviewers independently retrieved, screened, and extracted the data.

Results: The initial search identified 2,080 studies. After removing 500 duplicates, 1,577 unique studies remained for title and abstract screening. Ultimately, 49 articles were selected for data extraction. The most frequent teleurology communication interventions were Telephone (n = 12) and Videoconferencing (n = 11). Teleurology services were predominantly delivered through synchronous modalities (77%), followed by a combination of synchronous and asynchronous approaches (18%). Tele-consultation (n = 18), Tele-visit (n = 15), and Tele-care, in that order (n = 8) were the most common applications. A total of 339 benefits (n = 216) and challenges (n = 123) for teleurology were identified, with 28 benefits and 13 challenges remaining after consolidation. "Reducing patient treatment expenditures, travel costs and time" (n = 30), "Increasing patient satisfaction with telemedicine services" (n = 23), "Access to care for patients in rural or underserved areas" (n = 17), and "Curbing disease spread and sustaining care during pandemics while maintaining distancing" (n = 17) were the most common benefits of teleurology. The most important challenges were "Lack of physical examination of patients during telemedicine visits" (n = 30), "Need for robust digital infrastructure (inaccessible to technology, computer and internet)" (n = 23), and "Patient concerns about confidentiality and privacy" (n = 18).

Conclusions: Teleurology improves access, reduces costs, and enhances patient satisfaction, especially in underserved areas. However, physical exam limitations, infrastructure gaps, and privacy concerns remain challenges. Future efforts should refine teleurology frameworks and strengthen digital infrastructure for secure, high-quality care.

Keywords: Applications; Benefits; Challenges; Tele-urology; Telemedicine; Teleurology.