背景:远程医疗提供了许多潜在的优势,例如增强医疗保健的可及性,降低成本,改善患者预后。COVID-19大流行强调了远程医疗的重要性,因为它在维持不间断的护理同时将病毒暴露的风险降至最低方面起着至关重要的作用。然而,在某些领域,远程医疗的采用和实施相对缓慢。评估对远程医疗的兴趣水平可以为需要增强的领域提供有价值的见解。
目的:本研究的目的是全面分析2017年至2022年公众对远程医疗的兴趣和研究水平,并考虑COVID-19大流行的任何潜在影响。
方法:使用搜索主题“远程医疗”或“电子健康”检索Google趋势数据,以评估公众的兴趣,地理分布,通过连接点回归分析和趋势。Scopus的书目数据用于绘制引用术语“远程医疗”或“电子健康”的出版物(在标题中,abstract,和关键词)在科学生产方面,关键国家,和突出的关键词,以及合作和共现网络。
结果:全球,与eHealth(相对搜索量=17.6%)相比,远程医疗产生了更高的平均公共利益(相对搜索量=26.3%)。对远程医疗的兴趣在2020年1月之前保持稳定,经历了突然的激增(月百分比变化=95.7%),在2020年4月达到顶峰,随后下降(月百分比变化=-22.7%),直到2020年8月,然后恢复稳定。关于电子健康的公共利益也注意到了类似的趋势。智利,澳大利亚,加拿大,美国对远程医疗的兴趣最大。在这些国家,谷歌趋势和COVID-19数据之间存在中等到强的相关性(即,新病例,新的死亡,和住院患者)。检查Scopus数据库中的19,539篇原始医学文章揭示了远程医疗相关出版物的大幅增长,显示,2017年至2022年累计增长2015%,年均增长24.7%。最显著的激增发生在2019年至2020年之间。值得注意的是,大多数出版物来自一个国家,20.8%涉及国际合作。作为生产力最高的国家,美国领导了一个集群,其中包括加拿大和澳大利亚。欧洲,亚洲人,拉丁美洲国家组成了其余的3个集群。共现网络将流行的关键词分为2个集群,第一个集群主要专注于应用电子健康,移动健康(mHealth),或数字健康对非传染性疾病或慢性疾病的影响;第二个集群集中在COVID-19大流行背景下远程医疗和远程健康的应用。
结论:我们对一段时间和跨区域的搜索和书目数据的分析使我们能够衡量对该主题的兴趣,提供有关潜在应用的证据,并确定其他研究和提高认识举措的领域。
BACKGROUND: Telemedicine offers a multitude of potential advantages, such as enhanced health care accessibility, cost reduction, and improved patient outcomes. The significance of telemedicine has been underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, as it plays a crucial role in maintaining uninterrupted care while minimizing the risk of viral exposure. However, the adoption and implementation of telemedicine have been relatively sluggish in certain areas. Assessing the level of interest in telemedicine can provide valuable insights into areas that require enhancement.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the level of public and research interest in telemedicine from 2017 to 2022 and also consider any potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: Google Trends data were retrieved using the search topics \"telemedicine\" or \"e-health\" to assess public interest, geographic distribution, and trends through a joinpoint regression analysis. Bibliographic data from Scopus were used to chart publications referencing the terms \"telemedicine\" or \"eHealth\" (in the title, abstract, and keywords) in terms of scientific production, key countries, and prominent keywords, as well as collaboration and co-occurrence networks.
RESULTS: Worldwide, telemedicine generated higher mean public interest (relative search volume=26.3%) compared to eHealth (relative search volume=17.6%). Interest in telemedicine remained stable until January 2020, experienced a sudden surge (monthly percent change=95.7%) peaking in April 2020, followed by a decline (monthly percent change=-22.7%) until August 2020, and then returned to stability. A similar trend was noted in the public interest regarding eHealth. Chile, Australia, Canada, and the United States had the greatest public interest in telemedicine. In these countries, moderate to strong correlations were evident between
Google Trends and COVID-19 data (ie, new cases, new deaths, and hospitalized patients). Examining 19,539 original medical articles in the Scopus database unveiled a substantial rise in telemedicine-related publications, showing a total increase of 201.5% from 2017 to 2022 and an average annual growth rate of 24.7%. The most significant surge occurred between 2019 and 2020. Notably, the majority of the publications originated from a single country, with 20.8% involving international coauthorships. As the most productive country, the United States led a cluster that included Canada and Australia as well. European, Asian, and Latin American countries made up the remaining 3 clusters. The co-occurrence network categorized prevalent keywords into 2 clusters, the first cluster primarily focused on applying eHealth, mobile health (mHealth), or digital health to noncommunicable or chronic diseases; the second cluster was centered around the application of telemedicine and telehealth within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of search and bibliographic data over time and across regions allows us to gauge the interest in this topic, offer evidence regarding potential applications, and pinpoint areas for additional research and awareness-raising initiatives.