Patient Organizations' Digital Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Patient Advocacy

Background:

• Patient organizations (POs) are vital for supporting individuals with health conditions.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation in healthcare.
• POs rapidly adapted services in response to pandemic-related public health measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how patient organizations digitally responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify technologies used, positive outcomes, and challenges of PO digitalization.
• To understand the impact of digital adaptation on patient support services.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Systematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and WHO COVID-19 database.
• Included publications from after November 30, 2019, focusing on PO digitalization.

Main Results:

• 13 articles revealed diverse digital adaptations, with videoconferencing being most common.
• Digitalization of group support activities was frequent, increasing accessibility but creating new barriers.
• While some interpersonal connections were lost, digital delivery often preserved them, suggesting sustainability potential.

Conclusions:

• Patient organizations demonstrated significant adaptability through rapid digitalization.
• Digital technologies offer potential to enhance patient support services.
• Future strategies must prioritize digital literacy for accessible and inclusive digital services.