@article{Naoum2021-ih,
title = {Economic Evaluation of Digital Health Interventions in Palliative
Care: A Systematic Review of the Literature},
author = {Panagiota Naoum and Elpida Pavi and Kostas Athanasakis},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-11-01},
journal = {Front Digit Health},
volume = {3},
pages = {730755},
abstract = {Introduction: Digital health interventions can facilitate the
provision of palliative care. However, the economic evaluation of
such interventions has not yet been a standard practice. The
present study aimed to identify the existing literature on the
particular subject. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in
six literature databases between 2010 and 2021: PubMed, Scopus,
DARE, NHS EED, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Methodological
quality was assessed with the Drummond Checklist. Results: The
search identified 423 publications, 66 of which were removed as
duplicates, resulting in 357 records to be screened by title and
abstract. Ten studies were subjected to full-text review and 3
were included in the analysis. The interventions of these studies
referred to video consultations and eHealth interventions for
symptom management. Overall, the digital health interventions
incurred lower costs compared with usual care or no intervention
and were considered cost saving and cost-effective. The
methodological quality of the studies was considered good.
Conclusion: The results of this systematic review indicate that
the use of digital health interventions has the potential to be
cost-effective in palliative care. However, applicability and
generalizability of the evidence is uncertain, mainly due to
methodological heterogeneity and scarcity of research.},
keywords = {costs and outcomes; digital health; economic evaluation; palliative care; systematic review},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Introduction: Digital health interventions can facilitate the
provision of palliative care. However, the economic evaluation of
such interventions has not yet been a standard practice. The
present study aimed to identify the existing literature on the
particular subject. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in
six literature databases between 2010 and 2021: PubMed, Scopus,
DARE, NHS EED, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Methodological
quality was assessed with the Drummond Checklist. Results: The
search identified 423 publications, 66 of which were removed as
duplicates, resulting in 357 records to be screened by title and
abstract. Ten studies were subjected to full-text review and 3
were included in the analysis. The interventions of these studies
referred to video consultations and eHealth interventions for
symptom management. Overall, the digital health interventions
incurred lower costs compared with usual care or no intervention
and were considered cost saving and cost-effective. The
methodological quality of the studies was considered good.
Conclusion: The results of this systematic review indicate that
the use of digital health interventions has the potential to be
cost-effective in palliative care. However, applicability and
generalizability of the evidence is uncertain, mainly due to
methodological heterogeneity and scarcity of research.