Impact of digital health on the quality of primary care for people with chronic noncommunicable diseases: A scoping review protocol

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 20; no. 2; p. e0316278
• Main Authors: Xavier, Pedro Bezerra, Silva, Ísis de Siqueira, de Figueiredo, Renan Cabral, de Araújo, Aguinaldo José, da Silva, Amanda Jéssica Bernardo, Uchôa, Severina Alice da Costa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 21.02.2025; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Applications programs; Artificial intelligence; Boolean; Brazil; Care and treatment; Chronic Disease - therapy; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Criteria; Developing countries; Diabetes; Diagnosis; Digital Health; Digital Technology; Diseases; Dissertations & theses; E-health; Evaluation; Grey literature; Health care; Health care reform; Humans; Influence; Keywords; LDCs; Management; Medical care; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mobile applications; Mobile computing; Mortality; Noncommunicable Diseases - therapy; Open access; Patient outcomes; Patient satisfaction; Patients; Primary care; Primary Health Care; Quality management; Quality of Health Care; Scoping Review as Topic; Subject heading schemes; Telemedicine; Type 2 diabetes; Wireless telephone software; Brazil
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316278

Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) represent a significant global challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The introduction of digital health in Primary Health Care (PHC) has the potential to improve the quality of care for people with NCDs by offering tools such as telemedicine, mobile applications and other information and communication technologies. The aim of this study is to identify and map global experiences of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in primary care for non-communicable diseases and assess their impact on the quality of care in PHC. This study presents a scoping review protocol based on the Joanna Briggs Institute criteria and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The review will be carried out in nine stages, including defining the aim and research questions, developing inclusion and exclusion criteria, and searching, selecting, extracting and analyzing the evidence. The databases consulted include MEDLINE/PubMed, JBI Evidence Synthesis and Open Science Framework. The review will identify and map global experiences in the use of ICTs in primary care for NCDs and assess their impact on the quality of care in PHC. It is hoped to find studies that address the use of digital technologies for early detection, management and follow-up of NCDs, as well as their integration with traditional health systems. The integration of digital technologies into PHC has the potential to improve the quality of care, but it can also accentuate inequities. It is necessary to consider digital health literacy, access to tools, and legal and ethical aspects of data protection. The review will highlight the need for robust policies and adequate infrastructure to support the effective implementation of digital health in PHC.