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Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Digital Health Technologies for Remote Management of NCDs in Rural Areas:
Serine Sahakyan1,2, Selai Akseer1, Lusine Abrahamyan1
1Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 4th Floor, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M6, Canada, 437 838 8414.
Background:
Digital health technologies (DHTs) have the potential to improve care delivery and outcomes for patients with noncommunicable diseases. Yet their implementation in rural settings remains uneven, and the factors influencing uptake are not well understood.
Objective:
This mixed methods systematic review aimed to identify barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation and use of DHTs for remote management of noncommunicable diseases in rural areas.
Methods:
We searched Medline, Embase, and CINAHL from inception to February 12, 2026, using terms related to digital health, noncommunicable diseases, and rural settings. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed-method systematic review, we synthesized quantitative and qualitative studies. Barriers and facilitators were categorized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and study quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Results:
From the initial 1491 records, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria, with most conducted in high-income countries (n=11). Key barriers included technical challenges (software instability and hardware issues), poor internet connectivity, financial constraints, and workforce constraints, such as staff shortages and heavy workloads. Key facilitators included user-friendly technology design, strong leadership, effective teamwork, and ongoing communication. Evidence was predominantly qualitative, with only limited quantitative data available.
Conclusions:
DHTs show promise for improving access and continuity of care for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes in rural settings; however, their impact is constrained by structural inequities, including limited broadband access, workforce shortages, and financial fragility. These findings highlight important implications for research, policy, and practice, including the need for rigorous mixed methods evaluations sensitive to rural contexts, long-term equity-oriented financing mechanisms, and strengthened organizational readiness to support effective DHT uptake.
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