JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Digital healthcare technologies, including mobile applications and telemedicine platforms, have transformed how medical professionals communicate and deliver care. Remote consultation between medical providers and specialists plays a vital role in ensuring access to appropriate expertise, particularly in medically underserved or geographically remote areas. However, the diversity in technological modalities, devices, and patterns of use across specialties and regions has not been systematically mapped.

Objective:

This scoping review aimed to explore the current status and characteristics of teleconsultations among medical providers and specialists, focusing on device use, consultation modalities, clinical specialties, and regional differences. Through this approach, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of technological and practical trends in mobile health (mHealth) and telemedicine.

Methods:

A systematic scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines using the MEDLINE and Embase databases. The search covered studies published up to March 2024, with no restrictions on the publication year. Studies meeting the predefined inclusion criteria were also included.

Results:

In total, 113 citations were screened, of which 79 articles were included. Studies were analyzed according to consultation method, target, and regional characteristics. Of these, 83.5% were in the doctor-to-doctor category. E-mail, videoconference, and app-based consultations were the most common, with videoconference use decreasing and app use increasing annually. Approximately 90% of the studies used medical images, most frequently photographs. Orthopedics and dermatology were the most frequently involved specialties, followed by internal medicine. Regarding regions, 58.2% of consultations were domestic and 41.8% were international. Rural-to-urban domestic consultations comprised 45.7%, whereas consultations from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs) accounted for 30.3%.

Conclusions:

This review examined doctor-to-doctor and doctor-to-patient consultations with doctor involvement. Specialties in which medical images are central, such as orthopedics and dermatology, were more frequently represented than in other fields. This highlights disparities in the use of teleconsultation across clinical disciplines and suggests that addressing these imbalances is essential for broader adoption. Furthermore, the findings indicated a progressive shift from videoconference-based interactions to mobile and app-based platforms, reflecting ongoing technological advancements. Optimizing the integration of these digital tools and promoting equitable access are critical for enhancing the quality and reach of teleconsultation practices in future digital health systems. Clinical Trial: Not applicable. This study is a scoping review and does not involve a clinical trial. This review has been registered in the Open Science Framework Registry (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/K4TVU).