Digital Medicine: from SPA to Medical Recovery

Abstract

Background: Digital medicine (eHealth) represents using information and communications technologies to support health and health-related fields with affordable and secure healthcare services, medical literature, education, and research. Methods: A literature search was conducted on Publons, the PubMed database, and dedicated websites starting in 1995. We included papers performed in different countries, using specific statistical methods and standardized questionnaires to quantify patients' and clinicians' opinions correctly. Results: Traditionally, balneotherapy has a social value, but telehealth and telemedicine need to be adequately standardized in today's web society to empower travel behavior. The unmet need of older adults or persons with physical disabilities is a global problem, and physiotherapists work toward the same goals for improving rehabilitation services with the use of digital technology. Conclusions: This review draws attention to several factors from the literature survey. Firstly, therapists and patients accept eHealth methods only combined with face-to-face appointments. Secondly, the platform's software and other approaches should be cost-efficient and easy to use. Digital methods applied in balneotherapy, rehabilitation, and health maintenance proved their effectiveness. Still, the essential message is that society and governments should put future efforts into increasing the population's access to digital systems and improving digital awareness and literacy.

Keywords

• ehealth
• telemedicine
• balneal tourism
• physical rehabilitation