Executive summary Purpose
of eHealth solutions. These include valuable
This document aims to provide wound care
up-to-date information relevant for any group
clinicians with a rapid and structured overview of
of clinicians wishing to follow and influence
the key issues related to use of eHealth applications
the way eHealth solutions are integrated into
(telemedicine and telehealth) within wound care.
clinical practice.
This includes:
Findings and conclusions • An overview of terminology and available
The literature review revealed that the amount and
literature
level of evidence for use of eHealth applications in wound care is still limited. Some MAST domains
• Guidance on the methodology for evaluation of eHealth solutions
are not examined in any of the available studies. Thus, more research is required to identify the potential benefits and harms to patients, and the
• An introduction to and discussion of the
possible challenges related to implementation of
potential benefits of eHealth technologies in
eHealth solutions in wound care.
wound care, and the possible barriers to their implementation
Potential barriers and facilitators for the implementation of eHealth applications into wound
• Recommendations for ensuring a good
care practice are identified in the document, and
implementation process and supporting
these may all either enhance or impede the process.
involvement of wound care professionals in
However, the available research does demonstrate
safeguarding that eHealth solutions meet the
patient satisfaction, improved access to health
needs of the patients.
services for all client cohorts, and increased job satisfaction for clinicians.
Methodology The document sections lean on the structure
The document recommends that wound
and focus areas of the Model for ASsessment of
management clinicians, considering the use of
Telemedicine (MAST) which defines crucial items
eHealth applications in their clinical practice,
to evaluate an eHealth application.
consult widely and conduct regular evaluation of the outcomes to ensure efficient implementation
The content of the document is developed on the
of these services.
basis of a literature review, identifying available documentation for use of eHealth solutions in
To support this approach, steps to ensure a
wound care. Furthermore, it draws on various
good implementation process within a given
key documents recently published on the general
organisation have been proposed. These are
development, evaluation and implementation
synthesised into a three circle model.
S4
J O U R N A L O F WO U N D C A R E V O L 2 4 N O 5 E W M A D O C U M E N T 2 0 1 5
al of Wound Care. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 130.194.020.173 on November 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights rese
Abbreviations used in the document
• HRQoL: Health related quality of life
• CHF: Chronic heart failure
• ICT: Information and communication technology
• COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • MAST: Model for ASsessment of Telemedicine • EWMA: European Wound Management Association • EU: European Union
• RCT: Randomised clinical trial • WHO: World Health Organization
J O U R N A L O F WO U N D C A R E V O L 2 4 N O 5 E W M A D O C U M E N T 2 0 1 5
S5
al of Wound Care. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 130.194.020.173 on November 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights rese
of eHealth solutions. These include valuable
This document aims to provide wound care
up-to-date information relevant for any group
clinicians with a rapid and structured overview of
of clinicians wishing to follow and influence
the key issues related to use of eHealth applications
the way eHealth solutions are integrated into
(telemedicine and telehealth) within wound care.
clinical practice.
This includes:
Findings and conclusions • An overview of terminology and available
The literature review revealed that the amount and
literature
level of evidence for use of eHealth applications in wound care is still limited. Some MAST domains
• Guidance on the methodology for evaluation of eHealth solutions
are not examined in any of the available studies. Thus, more research is required to identify the potential benefits and harms to patients, and the
• An introduction to and discussion of the
possible challenges related to implementation of
potential benefits of eHealth technologies in
eHealth solutions in wound care.
wound care, and the possible barriers to their implementation
Potential barriers and facilitators for the implementation of eHealth applications into wound
• Recommendations for ensuring a good
care practice are identified in the document, and
implementation process and supporting
these may all either enhance or impede the process.
involvement of wound care professionals in
However, the available research does demonstrate
safeguarding that eHealth solutions meet the
patient satisfaction, improved access to health
needs of the patients.
services for all client cohorts, and increased job satisfaction for clinicians.
Methodology The document sections lean on the structure
The document recommends that wound
and focus areas of the Model for ASsessment of
management clinicians, considering the use of
Telemedicine (MAST) which defines crucial items
eHealth applications in their clinical practice,
to evaluate an eHealth application.
consult widely and conduct regular evaluation of the outcomes to ensure efficient implementation
The content of the document is developed on the
of these services.
basis of a literature review, identifying available documentation for use of eHealth solutions in
To support this approach, steps to ensure a
wound care. Furthermore, it draws on various
good implementation process within a given
key documents recently published on the general
organisation have been proposed. These are
development, evaluation and implementation
synthesised into a three circle model.
S4
J O U R N A L O F WO U N D C A R E V O L 2 4 N O 5 E W M A D O C U M E N T 2 0 1 5
al of Wound Care. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 130.194.020.173 on November 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights rese
Abbreviations used in the document
• HRQoL: Health related quality of life
• CHF: Chronic heart failure
• ICT: Information and communication technology
• COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • MAST: Model for ASsessment of Telemedicine • EWMA: European Wound Management Association • EU: European Union
• RCT: Randomised clinical trial • WHO: World Health Organization
J O U R N A L O F WO U N D C A R E V O L 2 4 N O 5 E W M A D O C U M E N T 2 0 1 5
S5
al of Wound Care. Downloaded from magonlinelibrary.com by 130.194.020.173 on November 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. . All rights rese
