JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a significant global health burden. Digital health technologies offer promising avenues to enhance self-management and continuity of care beyond traditional clinical settings. However, a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence landscape, particularly from a nursing practice perspective, is needed.

Objective:

This scoping review aims to systematically map the application of digital health technologies in COPD self-management, identify key evidence gaps, and provide insights for future nursing research, practice, and policy.

Methods:

We followed the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework for scoping reviews and adhered to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus databases for English-language literature published from January 2020 to December 2025. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and synthesized findings using thematic analysis.

Results:

A total of 18 studies were included. Digital health interventions were diverse, encompassing remote monitoring, mobile health applications, telerehabilitation, and technology-facilitated transitional care. Evidence indicates that nurse-led remote monitoring can effectively reduce the frequency of acute exacerbations and hospitalization rates. Structured remote follow-up led by nurses significantly improved symptom control and quality of life. Telerehabilitation demonstrated non-inferiority to traditional models in maintaining pulmonary function. Nevertheless, critical evidence gaps were identified: (1) a lack of systematic assessment of patient digital literacy and targeted nursing support; (2) insufficient co-design participation of nursing staff and patients in intervention development; (3) a severe deficiency in nursing assessment and intervention for mental health dimensions; (4) absence of standardized quality criteria, clear nurse roles, and workflows for remote nursing services; (5) scarcity of research on inclusive nursing strategies for vulnerable groups; and (6) a lack of long-term cost-effectiveness data.

Conclusions:

Digital health technologies provide a new pathway to extend the spatiotemporal boundaries of COPD nursing services. Their effective integration, however, is hampered by significant evidence and practice gaps. Future efforts should prioritize developing nurse-led, patient-centered digital interventions, establishing robust multidisciplinary workflows, promoting health equity, and conducting rigorous localized effectiveness and health economic evaluations. This will be crucial for advancing the scientific and standardized development of COPD nursing in the digital era.