The effect of telehealth interventions on anxiety management in the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth interventions used in anxiety management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Web of Science, ProQuest Central, and Google Scholar databases were searched. A total of 7 studies were included, 3 of which were randomized controlled trials and 4 of which were quasi-experimental designs, published between January 2020 and May 2021. Results: For telehealth interventions in anxiety management, although mixed methods were also used, it was observed that online video conferencing (WeChat, SpinChat), telephone calls providing telenursing and tele-education, internet-based integrated intervention, and voice recording were effective. The time allocated for interventions and training included 5 sessions, including sessions of at least 15-20 minutes, and a total of 24 sessions, including sessions of 45-60 minutes at most. Conclusion: According to the studies, telehealth interventions during the pandemic were effective in reducing the anxiety levels of systemic sclerosis patients, patients diagnosed with COVID-19, pregnant women, and vulnerable individuals, like mothers with preschool children with autism and people supported by charities.