New Remote Care Models in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Source abstract
Abstract
Background: Spinal cord injury is a multisystem disease which compromises independence and quality of life; remote care models represent an opportunity for long-term management of complications. The aim of this study was to explore remote care models for chronic spinal cord injury patients. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out. Five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) were systematically explored with a time limit of five years. Included studies were assessed using Jadad Score and PEDro Scale. Results: Four RCTs were included in this systematic review. In all studies, multidisciplinary home care supported by technology were compared with in-person models. Remote care models were effective in managing pressure injury, infection, and muscle atrophy and improve quality of life. Conclusions: Remote care models can be a key tool for improving self-efficacy, decreasing hospitalizations and preventing long-term mortality.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation · Spinal Cord Injury Research · Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Azienda USL of Piacenza, Via Anguissola 15, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
Degree Course in Physiotherapy, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Piacenza Training Centre, Viale Abruzzo 12 B/C, 29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
Azienda SST of Bergamo, Via Paderno 21, 24068 Seriate, Italy
Azienda PSS of Trento, Via De Gasperi 79, 38123 Trento, Italy
Azienda SL Soulcis, Via Dalmazia 83, 09013 Carbonia, Italy
References (61)
Show source-provided references
1. World Health Organization (2013). International Perspectives on Spinal Cord Injury, World Health Organization.
2. Spinal cord injury: A multisystem physiological impairment/dysfunction10.1016/j.neurol.2021.02.385 ↗
3. SIMFER, and FAIP (2021). Spinal Cord Injury: A Commettee for Global Taking Charge, SIMFER.
4. World Health Organization (2024, March 01). Spinal Cord Injury. WHO Fact Sheets, Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/spinal-cord-injury.
5. Marquez, M., Nobile, A., Santandrea, D., and Valsecchi, L. (2012). The Person with Spinal Cord Injury—Comprehensive Care Intervention, Carrocci Faber.
6. Spinal cord lesion management in Italy10.1038/sj.sc.3101521 ↗
7. Common data elements for spinal cord injury clinical research10.1038/sc.2014.246 ↗
8. Age.Na.S (2015). Guidance Document for the Organisation of Care for People with Spinal Cord Injury, Age.Na.S.
9. Lozupone, E. (2010). Medical Humanities for Health Area Training, Nuova Cultura.
10. Specchia, A. (2020). Spinal Cord Injury. Neurorehabilitation: The People at the Center, Specchia Editions.
11. Post-discharge nursing problems of spinal cord injured patients
12. Health conditions in people with spinal cord injury10.2340/16501977-2039 ↗
13. Transforming Medicine via Digital Innovation10.1126/scitranslmed.3000484 ↗
14. PNRR Health Mission. Primary care, between opportunities for a “training transition” and unity of political and administrative direction
15. US Department of Health and Human Services (2025, April 26). Access to Health Services, Available online: https://wayback.archive-it.org/5774/20220413204145/.
16. Bychkovska, O., Strøm, V., Tederko, P., Engkasan, J.P., Juocevičius, A., Battistella, L.R., Arora, M., Egen, C., and Gemperli, A. (2023). Health System’s Role in Facilitating Health Service Access among Persons with Spinal Cord Injury across 22 Countries. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20.10.3390/ijerph20116056 ↗
17. Siwicki, B. (2025, April 26). Telemedicine during COVID-19. Healthcare IT News, Available online: https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telemedicine-during-covid-19-benefits-limitations-burdens-adaptation.
18. Transportation barriers to health care access10.1007/s10900-013-9681-1 ↗
19. Abdelghany, I.K., AlMatar, R., Al-Haqan, A., Abdullah, I., and Waheedi, S. (2024). Exploring healthcare providers’ perspectives on virtual care delivery. BMC Health Serv. Res., 24.10.1186/s12913-023-10244-w ↗
20. SCiPad: Evaluating telemedicine via iPad facetime for general spinal cord injury care10.1038/s41393-022-00790-1 ↗
21. A pilot study of a telehealth intervention for persons with spinal cord dysfunction10.1038/sc.2013.45 ↗
22. The PRISMA 2020 statement10.1136/bmj.n71 ↗
23. (2025, April 26). PROSPERO. Available online: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
24. Scells, H., Zuccon, G., Koopman, B., Deacon, A., Azzopardi, L., and Shlomo, G. (2017, January 6–10). PICO in systematic review retrieval. Proceedings of the ACM CIKM, Singapore.
25. Mobile Health Self-management Support for Spinal Cord Injury: Systematic Literature Review10.2196/42679 ↗
26. Telerehabilitation for SCI: Systematic Review
27. Telehealth in trauma: A scoping review10.1177/1357633X20940868 ↗
28. Telehealth for people with spinal cord injury: A narrative review10.1038/s41393-017-0033-3 ↗
29. Matamala-Gomez, M., Maisto, M., Montana, J.I., Mavrodiev, P.A., Baglio, F., Rossetto, F., Mantovani, F., Riva, G., and Realdon, O. (2020). The role of engagement in teleneurorehabilitation. Front. Neurol., 11.10.3389/fneur.2020.00354 ↗
30. (2025, April 26). Zotero. Available online: https://www.zotero.org/.
31. Assessing quality of RCTs10.1016/0197-2456(95)00134-4 ↗
32. PEDro database10.1054/math.2000.0372 ↗
33. (2025, April 26). PRISMA 2020 Checklist. Available online: https://www.prisma-statement.org/prisma-2020-checklist.
34. Videoconferencing in pressure injury: Randomized Controlled Telemedicine Trial in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury10.2196/27692 ↗
35. The Effect of the Interactive Mobile Health and Rehabilitation System on Health and Psychosocial Outcomes in Spinal Cord Injury: Randomized Controlled Trial10.2196/14305 ↗
36. Nursing via WeChat for SCI10.1177/03000605211016145 ↗
37. App-based transitional care10.2196/22960 ↗
38. Health-related smartphone apps: A content analysis of health behavior theory-based apps10.2196/mhealth.4177 ↗
39. Acceptability, benefits, and challenges of video consulting: A qualitative study in primary care10.3399/bjgp19X704141 ↗
40. Mobile text messaging for health: A systematic review of reviews10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122855 ↗
41. Randomized Trial Comparing a Web-Mediated Follow-up With Routine Surveillance in Lung Cancer Patients10.1093/jnci/djx029 ↗
42. A randomized trial of weekly symptom telemonitoring in advanced lung cancer10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.07.013 ↗
43. Effectiveness of telemonitoring integrated into existing clinical services on hospital admission for exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Researcher blind, multicentre, randomised controlled trial10.1136/bmj.f6070 ↗
44. Telemedicine for chronic disease
45. Telenursing for colorectal cancer10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151406 ↗
46. Chronic complications of SCI10.5312/wjo.v6.i1.24 ↗
47. Wu, S.Y., Jhang, J.F., Liu, H.H., Chen, J.T., Li, J.R., Chiu, B., Chen, S.L., and Kuo, H.C. (2022). Long-Term Surveillance and Management of Urological Complications in Chronic Spinal Cord-Injured Patients. J. Clin. Med., 11.10.3390/jcm11247307 ↗
48. Comprehensive management of pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury: Current concepts and future trends10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000093 ↗
49. Mortality after Spinal cord injury in Norway10.2340/16501977-0017 ↗
50. Randomized Trial of a Peer-Led, Telephone-Based Empowerment Intervention for Persons with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Improves Health Self-Management10.1016/j.apmr.2017.02.005 ↗
51. Web-Based Health Coaching for Spinal Cord Injury: Results from a Mixed Methods Feasibility Evaluation10.2196/16351 ↗
52. Telehealth: Reaching out to newly injured spinal cord patients10.1093/phr/116.S1.94 ↗
53. Shem, K., Sechrist, S.J., Loomis, E., and Isaac, L. (2017). SCiPad: Effective Implementation of Telemedicine Using iPads with Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries, a Case Series. Front. Med., 4.10.3389/fmed.2017.00058 ↗
54. Bowel dysfunction in SCI10.1007/s11894-018-0655-4 ↗
55. Recommendations for evaluation of neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury and/or disease10.1080/10790268.2019.1706033 ↗
56. Identifying and classifying quality of life tools for neurogenic bladder function after spinal cord injury: A systematic review10.1080/10790268.2016.1226700 ↗
57. Effect of neurogenic bowel dysfunction symptoms on quality of life after a spinal cord injury10.1186/s13018-023-03946-8 ↗
58. Prevalence of chronic pain after spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis10.1136/rapm-2020-101960 ↗
59. Telehealth and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and narrative analysis10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016242 ↗
60. Impact of a university-based outpatient telemedicine program on time savings, travel costs, and environmental pollutants10.1016/j.jval.2017.01.014 ↗
61. The use of telemedicine in the management of chronic diseases: A systematic review