The Use of Telehealth Technology in the Medical Management of Adults With Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) experience substantial inequalities and barriers to accessing healthcare despite requiring ongoing access to their healthcare providers, as they are more likely to die from avoidable causes of death than those without ID. Telehealth technologies have the capacity to improve access to healthcare providers and information and could reduce morbidity and mortality rates in this population. This review explores the application of mobile health technology in the medical management of adults with ID. Methodology: PubMed, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Xplore (IEEE Xplore), Association of Computing Machinery, and Scopus databases were examined to extract peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and January 2022. Original research published in English on the use of telehealth technologies in the medical management of ID was deemed eligible. A narrative synthesis of study results structured around telehealth technologies used and outcomes was completed. Results: Thirteen of 1,008 reviewed articles—mostly small-scale cross-sectional studies—were eligible for inclusion. Most of the studies (n = 8) used videoconferencing platforms for real-time telehealth, while three focused on symptom or medication monitoring applications. The evidence supports the feasibility and potential effectiveness of telehealth to manage ID among adults. Users were generally satisfied with the telehealth technologies. Accessibility issues, including poor internet connectivity and poor knowledge of technology, might limit the use of telehealth in the management of ID. Conclusion: The use of telehealth was feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective for the management of ID among adults, although the varied methodology of included studies may be inadequate. A more structured methodology will be useful in future studies.