Challenges of using telemedicine for patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

Background

Telemedicine has aided patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic in receiving better healthcare services. However, despite its numerous benefits, the use of this technology has faced several challenges. This study aimed to identify the challenges of using telemedicine for patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This scoping review was conducted in 2024. Relevant articles published between 2020 and 2023 were searched in databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library. Initially, 822 articles were retrieved, and after screening 21 articles were selected.

Results

The challenges of using telemedicine for patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic were categorized into the clinical, individual, organizational, and technical challenges. The clinical challenges included the lack of physical examinations and unavailability of patients’ medical history. The individual challenges contained difficulties in using smart phones by patients and their low level of literacy. The organizational challenges were related to insufficient laws about obtaining patient consent and limited reimbursement for telemedicine services, and the technical challenges included limited access to the high-speed Internet services and inadequate technical infrastructure for telemedicine services. Most studies highlighted the role of individual and organizational challenges in using this technology.

Conclusions

Considering the numerous challenges experienced in using telemedicine for patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that more attention should be paid to address each of these challenges to improve the actual usage, service quality, and user acceptance of telemedicine technology. This, in turn, can lead to saving costs and improving the health status and quality of life of patients with diabetes.