Study characteristics
| Authors (year) | Duration of study | Setting (animal model, simulation, patients, cadavers) | Variable number (operation, USS) | No. of participants | No. of operators |
| Bouwsma et al (2018) Netherlands11 | 2011–2014 | Patients | Operation: benign gynaecological surgery—hysterectomy and/or laparoscopic adnexal surgery Usual care n=206 Care programme n=227 | Usual care n=206 Care programme n=227 | Secondary care 9 different hospitals |
| Grindlay and Grossman (2017) USA12 | October–Nov 2013 | Provider’s experience | 8 in-depth interviews | 8 providers, eligibility criteria: physician, advanced practice clinician, nurse, medical assistant/patient care coordinator, clinic manager, or counsellor on staff at a clinic providing medical abortion via TM. | 8 clinic providers involved with medical abortion using telemedicine |
| Shehata et al (2016) Canada13 | July 2011–January 2015 | E-Consults directed to obstetrics and gynaecology | 394 e-consults directed to Ob-Gyn | E-Consults were submitted by 151 primary care providers—126 medical doctors and 25 nurse practitioners—91% with urban practices and 9% with rural practices. | All eConsults were answered by a single Royal College of Surgeons of Canada–certified obstetrician–gynaecologist (ob-gyn) who had been in independent practice for 7 years at the start of the project. |
| Hitt et al (2016) USA14 | 15 months January 2014–April 2015 | Patients | 940 unique patients seen via telecolposcopy | 940 patients had telecolposcopy performed at 8 remote sites, each given an impression based on the assessment by the hub-site clinician in UAMS located in central Arkansas. | Number of doctors involved not specified. |
| Jefferis et al (2016) UK15 | 5 years: 1 January 2010–31 December 2014 | Patient requiring follow-up after tension-free vaginal tape insertion. | 262 patients who underwent day case tension-free vaginal tape insertion were followed up via telemedicine. | 262 patients | All cases of primary retropubic TVT slings performed by one unit over a 5-year period. No. operators not specified. |
| Ricard-Gauthier et al (2015) Switzerland16 | 5 months: July 2013–November 2013 | Patients | 88 HPV-positive women were screened for cervical cancer. | 88 patients had cervical smartphone images taken for remote analysis. | One on-site physician in Madagascar, and three physicians in Geneva analysing the smartphone images. |
| Catarino et al (2015) Switzerland17 | 8 months; January 2014–August 2014 | Patients | 95 HPV-positive women were screened for cervical cancer | 95 patients had cervical smartphone images taken for remote analysis. | One on-site expert in Madagascar, and three physicians in Geneva analysing the smartphone images. |
| Stratton et al (2015) USA18 | 19 months: September 2012–March 2014 | Trial participants | 37 participants were enrolled over the 19-month time period. | The largest proportion of participants (46%) was enrolled from the telecolposcopy network. Others were enrolled through outside institutions (43%), in-house referrals (8%), or direct advertisement (3%). Most participants were motivated to join the study to take care of their health issues. Only 2 participants joined the Facebook private page. | The availability of a large number of potential participants from the telecolposcopy network increased recruitment to this clinical trial by 85% over other traditional means of recruitment. |
| Noordegraaf et al (2014) Netherlands19 | 18 months: March 2010–September 2011 | Patients | Women were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=110) or the control group (n=105). The intervention group received an eHealth programme that provided personalised tailor‐made preoperative and postoperative instructions on the resumption of daily activities, including work. The control group was provided with access to a control website. | A cohort of 215 women (aged 18–65 years) who had a hysterectomy and/or laparoscopic adnexal surgery for a benign indication. | The trial was carried out in 6 general and/or teaching hospitals and one university hospital. |
| Gomperts et al (2014) Netherlands20 | This study analyses the data of women from Brazil who contacted Women on Web from 1 January through 31 December 2011 and performed a medical abortion provided through Women on Web’s TM service. | Patients | 307 women who received and used the medication, and the outcome of the abortion was reported back. | 307 women | NS |
| Hitt et al (2013) USA21 | 18 months: January 2010–June 2011 | Patients | 1298 telescopic exams | 1298 patients underwent examination using telemedicine | Colposcopy services via interactive TM were set up at 4 separate spoke sites. During each weekly 3 hours clinic, an advanced nurse practitioner at each of the spoke sites performed the exams and collected biopsy specimens under the real-time, interactive supervision of an experienced faculty member at the hub site. Exact number of operators not specified. |
| Gomperts et al (2011) Netherlands22 | 20 months: February 2007–September 2008 | Patients | 2585 women from 88 countries where access to TOP is restricted, who received medication for a TOP and provided follow‐up information. | 2585 women | NS |
| Kldiashvili and Schrader (2010) Georgia23 | 100 days | Cytology slides | 420 gynaecological cytology cases | 420 cases | 4 cytologists |
| Radley et al (2006) UK24 | 8 months: June 2003 to January 2004 | Patients | 432 women (204 in primary care and 228 in secondary care urogynaecology clinic) | 432 women | Two general practices, two community health clinics and a secondary care urogynaecology clinic. |
| Perisic et al (2006) Serbia and Montenegro25 | NS | Patients | 250 colpographs | 250 patients | Group 1 consisted of 15 gynaecologists who were not trained in colposcopy and were from primary healthcare. Group 2 consisted of six experienced colposcopists (specialists). Group 3 was a supervising team consisting of three experts (colposcopists who had more than 15 years' colposcopy experience). |
| Etherington et al (2002) UK26 | NS | Patients | 81 cases | 81 patients included for diagnosis comparison between telecolposcopic and colposcopic images | NS |
| Allen-Davis et al (2002) USA27 | June 1996 to August 1996 | Patients | 485 patients underwent telephone evaluation followed by same day appointment with physician, nurse midwife or physicians assistant | 485 patients | NS |
| Atlas et al (2000) Israel28 | 9 months | International Tumour Board (ITB): Multidisciplinary team discussion of patient cases | 20 videoconferences, discussing 450 patients. Three key cases described. | 450 patient cases | The ITB consists of doctors trained in cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiation oncology, diagnostic radiology and tumour pathology, as well as nurses, nutritionists and oncology social workers. Exact numbers not specified. |
| Tates et al (2016) Netherlands29 | NS | Simulated patients | 48 simulated doctor–patient consultations | 6 certified simulated patients | 12 medical students |
| Gambadauro and Magos (2007) UK30 | 6 months | Patients: range of gynaecological interventions including abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic surgery. Simulation: pelvi-trainer sessions in endoscopy skills laboratory. | 20 operations | NS | NS |
| Katz et al (2017) Israel31 | Two separate sessions with groups of participants | E-learning simulation | Two training sessions, where participants were divided into those receiving an automated, self-assessment computerised case and an intervention group (WOZ) received the same computerised case accompanied by a human trainer supplying web-based immediate feedback and clarifications for each question. | First experiment: 10 control, 8 intervention subjects Second experiment: 7 control, 7 intervention subjects | NS |
| Yoost et al (2017) USA32 | Eight hours long telehealth sessions were offered over a course of 4 weeks in the spring of 2015 | Computer e-learning | 8 teaching sessions | 55 students | 8 teaching sessions |
| Chekerov et al (2008) Germany33 | 20 months December 2004 to August 2006 | Online Gynaecological Cancer Conference | 39 Tumour Board Conferences 144 patients’ cases presented | 667 participants | 121 peer-reviewed second opinions were sought |
| Haller and Gabathuler (2003) Switzerland34 | 1997–2001 | Lecture hall—videoconferencing | NS | NS | NS |
| Chaves et al (2017) Brazil35 | 4 weeks June–July 2016 | Patients | 5 operations (4 total abdominal hysterectomies and 1 oophoroplasty) | 21 medical students/residents | 5 operations observed |
| Boatin et al (2015) Boston, USA36 | 30 months: June 2012 to January 2015 | Lectures | 30 lectures | 30 lectures with approximately 20 attendees per session | NS |
| Browne et al (2000) USA37 | Two years: 6-week rotation with video teleconference occurring across sites half way through clerkship | Video teleconference | 20–22 studemts between 5 clerkship sites every 6 weeks | 20–22 students, site coordinators, clerkship director, administrative staff and occasionally department chairperson between 5 clerkship sites. | NS |
| Cordasco et al (2015) California, USA38 | 14 months: October 2012– December 2013 | Specialist at a ‘hub’ facility and primary care providers at multiple ‘spoke’ sites. | 14 1 hour monthly sessions | Interviews conducted with 18 primary care providers | Number of specialists delivering sessions not specified. |
| Van Dongen et al (2016) Netherlands39 | 28 months: February 2011–June 2013 | Patients | 120 women starting their first ART cycle were randomised, 48% in the intervention group were compliant. | 120 women | Women in the control group received care as usual, whereas women in the intervention group received in addition to their usual care access to a personalised e-therapy programme. Number of e-therapists involved not specified. |
| Grossman and Grindlay (2017) USA40 | 7 years: July 2008–June 2015 | Patients—adverse events | During the study period, 8765 TM and 10 405 in-person medical abortions were performed. | Total: 19170 medical abortions, 49 clinically significant events reported (0.18% telemedicine patients, 0.32% in-person patients) | NS |
| Mammas et al (2016) Greece41 | NS | Pelvic MRI sets of digital images | 10 sets of pelvic MRI digital images | 10 sets of pelvic MRI digital images | 2 consultant radiologists |
| Kim et al (2016) South Korea42 | 1 year: January 2013–December 2013 | Patients | 100 cases from 5 centres were collected prospectively, of which 63 cases were valid to be included in the study. | Total 63 cases and associated 567 images were finally analysed to assess intraobserver consensus. | Nine certified specialists belonging to Korean Cervicography Research Group evaluated the digital images on DCS, 35 mm analogue slides, and scanned images without patient information. |
| Barlow et al (2012) USA43 | 1 year: July 2008–July 2009 | Patients | 51 patient visits considered appropriate for telehalth, of which 28 patients/families expressed interest in telehealth. | 51 patient visits | NS |
| Schadel et al (2005) Germany44 | NS | Patients | 286 patients, average 5 images per patient. | 315 patients participated in study, of which 286 patients were valid for re-evaluation by a second physician. | NS |
| Etherington (2002) UK45 | NS | Patients | 81 patients had full data available | 97 invited, 10 declined/did not attend all appointments, 6 had inadequate images, thus 81 women had full data for analysis. | One experienced colposcopist |
| Stewart et al (2001) UK46 | January 1998 to December 1999 | Patients | 159 couples returned the questionnaire within 2 weeks of their follow-up discussion | 159 couples | One clinic, number of clinicians involved in follow-up not specified |
| Harper et al (2000) USA47 | October 1997 to May 1998 | Patients | 79 women, number of images captured for each patient varied from 3 to 20 | 79 women | NS |
| Quercia et al (2017) Switzerland48 | July and August 2016 | Patients | 151 patients | 151 patients recruited, application collected 44 items of information per patient | NS |
| Haggerty et al (2016) Romania49 | Recruitment: August 2012–May 2013 Weight loss programme 6 months | Patients | 20 patients | 10 patients: TM arm 10 patients: Texting arm | NS |