Transforming multidrug-resistant tuberculosis care: The potentials of telemedicine in resource-limited settings

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a significant public health challenge in low-resource settings owing to limited healthcare access and quality. However, telemedicine can potentially improve healthcare delivery by overcoming geographical barriers. This comprehensive review aimed to provide an overview of the current trends in utilizing telemedicine for MDR-TB control in low-resource settings. A systematic literature search were conducted in PubMed and CINAHL electronic databases and Google Scholar search engine to identify relevant articles on telemedicine and MDR-TB control in low-resource settings. The selected articles were analyzed and synthesized to provide a comprehensive overview of telemedicine's current trends and applications in MDR-TB control. The review results shows that telemedicine allows remote screening and diagnosis, facilitating early detection and timely treatment, provides access to experts through teleconsultation, which ensures optimal treatment outcomes, fosters training and education of healthcare providers, and supports follow-up care through teleconsultation and remote monitoring. Furthermore, telemedicine integration with data collection methods could improve MDR-TB surveillance and intervention. Findings from this review show the potential of telemedicine to improve MDR-TB control and patient health in low-resource settings. This makes it a promising prevention and management option. However, successful implementation requires overcoming limitations such as connectivity, infrastructure, and cultural barriers. Telemedicine can considerably improve MDR-TB control and reduce disease burden in underserved populations by utilizing possibilities and addressing the challenges.

Keywords

• Multidrug-resistant
• Digital health
• Tuberculosis
• Telemedicine
• Resource-limited setting