Recent trends of healthcare information and communication technologies in pediatrics: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare Technology
• Digital Health Interventions
• Health Informatics

Background:

• The healthcare industry increasingly adopts Information Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance patient care, reduce costs, and improve satisfaction.
• ICT is revolutionizing pediatric healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
• A systematic review is crucial to categorize and synthesize the diverse applications of ICT in pediatrics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and categorize existing literature on ICT applications in pediatric healthcare.
• To synthesize findings on the current trends and impact of ICT on child health.
• To identify key areas for future development and research in pediatric ICT.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using Embase, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases.
• Study selection and data coding were performed independently by two researchers.
• Classifications from Gartner's Hype Cycle and WHO's digital health interventions were adopted for analysis.

Main Results:

• The review identified 135 studies detailing seven main types of ICT in pediatrics: telehealth (39), artificial intelligence (AI) (39), mobile and wearable technologies (20), automated decision support systems (17), electronic health records (7), and patient portals (7).
• Telehealth and AI emerged as the most frequently studied ICT applications in pediatric care.
• ICT is consistently referenced for its role in changing and improving healthcare for children.

Conclusions:

• Information Communication Technology significantly impacts and improves pediatric healthcare delivery.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a key area for future research to enhance ICT productivity in pediatrics.
• The findings provide insights for healthcare organizations and technology developers to guide the future of pediatric healthcare technology.