Introduction
Methodology
Research questions
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RQ1: How can telemedicine and virtual software platforms be adopted for treating outpatients during and after COVID-19 pandemic?
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RQ2: What are the telemedicine and virtual software platforms that are adopted during and after COVID-19 pandemic?
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RQ3: What factors impact adoption of telemedicine and virtual software platforms during and after COVID-19 pandemic?
Search strategy
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
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Studies published in English language. | Studies that are not written in English language. |
Journal articles, conference proceedings, and document reports. | Not journal articles, conference proceedings, and document reports. |
Published between 2020 till date. | Published before 2020. |
Studies that provide possible answers to research questions based on title and abstract content. | Remove duplicate/similar studies by retaining the most current and comprehensive version. |
Conceptual, literature review, quantitative, qualitative, and experimental studies that provide evidence. | Studies that do not provide any theoretical, empirical, or statistical evidence. |
Studies generally related to virtual software platforms and COVID-19 pandemic. | Studies not related to virtual software platforms and COVID-19 pandemic. |
Studies related to related to role of ICT to manage COVID-19 pandemic. | Studies not related to role of ICT to manage COVID-19 pandemic. |
Quality assessment criteria
Data extraction and synthesis
Findings
Opportunities of adopting telemedicine and virtual software platforms
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Decrease the time required to get a diagnosis and initiate treatment, stabilize, or quarantine a patient
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Facilitates close follow-up with patients who can be monitored from their home to avoid oversaturation of health facilities
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Reducing movement of people, minimizing the risk of intra-hospital infection
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Supports co-ordination of medical resources utilized in distant locations
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Prevent the risk of contagion, particularly for medical practitioners, who are key assets
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Aids in informing the general public
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Saves costs on disposable robes, antiseptic material, gloves, disinfecting of hospital spaces, etc.
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Training of medical practitioners who are new to the treatment of pandemic
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Monitoring of real-world data, for example, Johns Hopkins COVID-19 website (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html) and the VG live corona website update (https://www.vg.no/spesial/2020/corona/) which provide regularly updated information on COVID-19