Telemidwifery: A scoping review on applications, advantages and obstacles

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Midwifery Pub Date : 2025-06-09 DOI:10.1016/j.midw.2025.104477

Khadijeh Moulaei , Pershia Davoodi Karsalari , Atousa Moghadam Fard , Reihaneh Shahmoradi Pour , Reza Moulaei , Babak Sabet , Mohammad Reza Afrash

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Telemidwifery, the provision of midwifery care through telecommunication technologies, presents a promising approach to enhance maternal healthcare accessibility and quality. However, a comprehensive understanding of its advantages and obstacles is crucial for its effective implementation. This scoping review aims to systematically explore the existing literature on telemidwifery, focusing on elucidating its potential applications, advantages and obstacles.

Method

This scoping review follows the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted using predefined search terms related to telemedicine and midwifery. Articles were screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were extracted and synthesized to explore different aspects of telemidwifery.

Result

Of the 680 articles retrieved, 65 were included in this review. Three ways Synchronous and asynchronous (n= 24, 39%), Synchronous (n= 23, 38%), and aynchronous (n= 14, 23%) were commonly used for delivering telemidwifery services. Telephone (n=20) and Video conferencing (n=19) were the primary technologies used for service delivery. A total of 346 telemidwifery applications (n=105), advantages (n=182), and obstacles (n=59) were identified. After consolidating similar items, 128 remained: applications (n=61), advantages (n=51), and obstacles (n=16). The most significant applications were "Virtual visits for offering perinatal care" (n=7), "Education on pregnancy complications and risk factors" (n=6), and “Providing information on breastfeeding and infant issues” (n=6). Key advantages included "Increasing people's knowledge, awareness and skills" (n=16), "Access to telemidvifery services anytime and anywhere" (n=14). The primary obstacles were ""Limited access and slow internet connectivity anytime, anywhere" (n=13), " Lack of support for non-English-speaking individuals" (n=7) and “Lack of sufficient digital skills and literacy “ (n=6).

Conclusion

This review is the first study that offers insights into its applications, advantages, and obstacles, stressing the importance of understanding them for effective implementation. Targeted strategies are needed to maximize benefits and overcome challenges.

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遥产术：应用范围、优势和障碍综述

远程助产是通过电信技术提供助产护理，是提高孕产妇保健可及性和质量的一种有希望的方法。然而，全面了解其优势和障碍对其有效实施至关重要。本综述旨在系统地探讨远程助产的现有文献，重点阐述其潜在的应用、优势和障碍。方法本综述遵循PRISMA-ScR指南。使用与远程医疗和助产相关的预定义搜索词对PubMed、Scopus和Web of Science数据库进行了系统搜索。根据预先设定的纳入和排除标准对文章进行筛选，并对数据进行提取和综合，以探讨远程助产士的不同方面。结果在检索到的680篇文献中，有65篇被纳入本综述。三种方式：同步和异步（n= 24, 39%）、同步（n= 23, 38%）和异步（n= 14, 23%）是提供远程助产服务的常用方式。电话（n=20）和视像会议（n=19）是用于提供服务的主要技术。共确定了346种远程分娩应用（n=105）、优势（n=182）和障碍（n=59）。在合并类似的项目后，剩下128个：应用（n=61），优势（n=51）和障碍（n=16）。最重要的应用是“提供围产期护理的虚拟访问”（n=7），“关于妊娠并发症和危险因素的教育”（n=6）和“提供母乳喂养和婴儿问题的信息”（n=6）。主要优势包括“提高人们的知识、意识和技能”（n=16）、“随时随地获得远程电视服务”（n=14）。主要障碍是“任何时间、任何地点的网络连接有限和缓慢”（n=13），“缺乏对非英语人士的支持”（n=7）和“缺乏足够的数字技能和读写能力”（n=6）。结论本综述首次对其应用、优势和障碍进行了分析，并强调了了解其对有效实施的重要性。需要有针对性的战略来实现利益最大化并克服挑战。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Midwifery 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

7.40%

发文量

221

审稿时长

13.4 weeks

期刊介绍： Midwifery publishes the latest peer reviewed international research to inform the safety, quality, outcomes and experiences of pregnancy, birth and maternity care for childbearing women, their babies and families. The journal’s publications support midwives and maternity care providers to explore and develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes informed by best available evidence. Midwifery provides an international, interdisciplinary forum for the publication, dissemination and discussion of advances in evidence, controversies and current research, and promotes continuing education through publication of systematic and other scholarly reviews and updates. Midwifery articles cover the cultural, clinical, psycho-social, sociological, epidemiological, education, managerial, workforce, organizational and technological areas of practice in preconception, maternal and infant care. The journal welcomes the highest quality scholarly research that employs rigorous methodology. Midwifery is a leading international journal in midwifery and maternal health with a current impact factor of 1.861 (© Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports 2016) and employs a double-blind peer review process.