Authors: (including presenting author): :
Lung Yi
Keyword 1: :
Literature review
Keyword 2: :
Health outcomes
Keyword 4: :
osteoporosis
Introduction: :
Osteoporosis reduced bone strength and increases fracture risk, creating a major healthburden in Hong Kong . Over a third of people aged 50 and above are affected,and in nine years, 7% of men and 11% of women suffer major fractures. Hip fracture cases rose by 71%, from 3,678 in 2000 to 6,300 in 2020, mainly due to an ageing population . With elderly numbers expected to rise by 2036, effective management includes early detection, monitoring, and education which is essential.
However, many older adults face travel difficulties, long waits, and high costs, leading to delayed diagnosis and poor treatment adherence.Telehealth offers a potential solution, but evidence of its impact is still unclear.
Objectives: :
1. Evaluate health outcomes of telehealth interventions for osteoporosis management
2. Summarize whether and how telehealth improves patient care compared to traditional
approaches, highlighting benefits and limitations.
Methodology: :
The review was searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and eKG for studies published in
the last ten years. Keywords included telehealth, telemedicine, virtual care, and
osteoporosis, combined using Boolean operators for broad coverage.
Only full-text articles were included, which may have excluded relevant abstracts
or conference papers. This could limit the review’s completeness and introduce
publication bias.
Result & Outcome: :
Thirteen journals were reviewed. Telehealth offers a versatile approach to
osteoporosis care through virtual consultations, remote monitoring, and e-Consults,
supporting early detection, patient education, and treatment adherence. Benefits include improved access for underserved populations such as rural communities in the United
States and elderly residents in rural Taiwan, enhanced clinician-patient
communication, and interactive education via video visits, mobile apps, and online
modules . Structured interventions such as telephone counseling and electronic
reminders increase medication initiation and bone density testing, while digital education programs improve patient knowledge and health behaviors. Telehealth also addresses transportation barriers, enabling consistent follow-up .
However, challenges remain, such as technology access and digital literacy among
older adults, difficulties with device use or internet connectivity, and reduced personal connection in virtual interactions .
At Tseung Kwan O Hospital, telehealth can be used for follow-up visits to explain
investigation results and discuss treatment plans. It can also help pre-assess patients who have trouble traveling before injection appointments. These uses reduce unnecessary visits while maintaining care quality. More research is needed to confirm telehealth’s feasibility and benefits for patients.
