Evidence on the role of eHealth in the self-management of chronic illness in older communities!
Chronic illnesses are a major public health challenge, particularly in older populations, and require ongoing management to keep symptoms under control and prevent complications. The use of eHealth tools, such as mobile health apps, wearable devices, and online portals, has the potential to support the self-management of chronic illness in older communities by improving access to health information, enabling remote monitoring, supporting medication management, facilitating social support, and enabling personalized care.
The benefits of eHealth in the self-management of chronic illness include improved access to health information, which can help older adults make informed decisions about their health. eHealth tools can also enable remote monitoring by healthcare providers, allowing for the early identification of potential problems and early intervention. Additionally, eHealth can support medication management by reminding older adults when to take their pills and tracking their adherence to medication regimens.
eHealth can also provide older adults with access to online support groups and communities, which can help them feel less isolated and more connected to others who are also living with chronic illness. Finally, eHealth tools can help healthcare providers tailor care plans to meet the specific needs of individual patients, taking into account factors like age, medical history, and lifestyle.
Overall, the use of eHealth in the self-management of chronic illness in older communities has the potential to improve health outcomes and promote independence. The adoption of eHealth tools may also have economic benefits by reducing healthcare costs associated with managing chronic illnesses in older adults.
In the last years a lot of scientific and economic studies were carried out, which support the use of eHealth in improving the self-management of chronic illnesses and driving better prevention of disease.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report on the use of eHealth in supporting the prevention and management of chronic diseases. The report highlights the potential of eHealth tools to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with chronic disease management.
- A systematic review published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that eHealth interventions can improve self-management behaviors and health outcomes in patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
- A study published in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare found that remote monitoring using eHealth tools can lead to better blood glucose control and improved medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- An economic analysis published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that the use of eHealth tools for remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases can lead to significant cost savings for healthcare systems.
- A study published in the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology found that the use of a mobile health app for medication management improved medication adherence and reduced hospital readmissions in older adults with heart failure.
These studies provide evidence for the effectiveness of eHealth tools in improving the self-management of chronic illnesses and driving better prevention of disease. By providing access to health information, enabling remote monitoring, supporting medication management, facilitating social support, and enabling personalized care, eHealth tools have the potential to transform healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for older adults with chronic illnesses.
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