Shannen R van der Kruk, Kate M Gunn, Hamish MacDougall, Donna Milne, Katherine Smith, Rob Zielinski
Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of virtual reality as a patient education tool for people with cancer undergoing immunotherapy: a protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study in a regional setting
BMJ open
advent digital health technologies transformed landscape health care influencing dynamics physicianpatient relationship although technologies offer potential benefits also introduce challenges complexities require ethical consideration scoping review aims investigate effects digital health technologies digital messaging telemedicine electronic health records physicianpatient relationship understand complex consequences tools within health care contrasts findings studies use various theoretical frameworks concepts studies grounded relational ethics using prismascr preferred reporting items systematic reviews metaanalyses extension scoping reviews guidelines conducted scoping review data retrieved keyword searches medlinepubmed embase ieee xplore cochrane screened 427 original peerreviewed research papers published englishlanguage journals 2010 2021 total 73 papers assessed eligibility 10 included review data summarized narrative synthesis findings digital health technologies enhance communication improve health care delivery efficiency empower patients leading shifts power dynamics physicianpatient relationship also potentially reinforce inequities health care access due variations technology literacy among patients lead decreases patient satisfaction due impersonal nature digital interactions studies applying relational ethics framework revealed nuanced impacts digital health technologies physicianpatient relationship highlighting shifts toward collaborative reciprocal care studies also explored transitions traditional hierarchical relationships mutual engagement capturing complexities power dynamics vulnerabilities theoretical frameworks patientcentered care concepts patient empowerment also valuable understanding interactions context digital health shift hierarchical collaborative models physicianpatient relationship underscores empowering potential digital tools also presents new challenges reinforces existing ones along applications various theoretical frameworks concepts review highlights unique comprehensiveness relational ethics perspective could provide nuanced understanding trust empathy power dynamics context digital health adoption relational ethics empirical research may offer richer insights reallife complexities physicianpatient relationship mediated digital technologies