The effects of rehospitalization rate on transitional care using information communication technology in patients with heart failure: a scoping review

Abstract Background: The number of people with heart failure is increasing. They have a high readmission rate and need ongoing health care and follow-up after hospital discharge. However, face-to-face nursing care is expensive; therefore, remote care options are required. Objective: To reveal whether there are differences in effects (rehospitalization rate, and drug adherence) between face-to-face transitional care and remote technology, such as information and communication technologies, for transitional care in patients with heart failure within 30 days after discharge. Design: Review Setting: Patients with heart failure who received an information and communication technologies intervention within 30 days of discharge after being hospitalized for heart failure based on a review of published studies. Methods: Eight English, Japanese, and Chinese databases were searched for research papers that examined outcomes such as readmission rates in patients with heart failure who received transitional care using remote technology. The search period was from 2000 to November 2021. This study was screened according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and at least 17 papers were accepted. Results: Seventeen studies were included in this review. In 14 studies, the readmission rates were lower in the transitional care group using information and communication technologies than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant in ninestudies. In addition, one paper showed that the transitional care group improved patient satisfaction and quality of life more effectively. Conclusions: Transitional care using information and communication technologies can provide necessary guidance according to the patient's timing, regardless of the patient's residence and time. Patients can send their self-monitored information to medical practitioners and receive timely feedback and guidance. With continuous follow-up support from the medical practitioner, the patient can adjust the plan to achieve a high degree of execution, and the patient's doubts and anxieties can be quickly resolved, increasing the patient's self-confidence. As a result, patients' self-care ability has improved, and it has become easier to control symptoms and prevent deterioration. We inferred that the transitional care group obtained a higher self-care ability than the control group. Transformational care using remote technologies such as information and communication technologies can help reduce readmission rates within 30 days after discharge compared to face-to-face care. In addition, the study showed that it may contribute to improving the quality of life and patient satisfaction. Tweetable abstract: Information communication technology interventions after hospital discharge can decrease readmission rates in patients with heart failure.