Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41451959›Full record

SynthesisThe Australian journal of rural health2025

Digital Health Interventions for Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes in Rural and Remote Australia: A Systematic Review.

Cheru Tesema Leshargie, Meless Gebrie Bore, Hazel Dalton, Subash Thapa, Fentaw Tadese Berhe, Zemenu Yohannes Kassa, Zekariyas Sahile Nezenega, Setognal B Aychiluhm, Feleke Hailemichael Astawesegn, Birhanu Wondimeneh Demissie and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Australian journal of rural health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Cheru Tesema LeshargieRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3399-2803
Meless Gebrie BoreRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Hazel DaltonRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5816-4548
Subash ThapaRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1182-8511
Fentaw Tadese BerheRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Zemenu Yohannes KassaRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Zekariyas Sahile NezenegaRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Setognal B AychiluhmRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Feleke Hailemichael AstawesegnRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6435-8405
Birhanu Wondimeneh DemissieRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Tebikew Yeneabat MengistRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8870-2485
Kedir Y AhmedRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3797-5234

Funding

Charles Sturt UniversityCommonwealth of Australia 4-DGEJZ1O/4-CW7UT14
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCardiometabolic disease contributes to increased morbidity and mortality in rural and remote Australia. Digital health technologies offer a promising solution to enhance healthcare access and support self-management.

objectiveThis systematic review examined the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of implementing digital health interventions to improve cardiometabolic health outcomes in rural and remote Australia.

designPubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and CINAHL were searched from inception to end of July 2025. Eligible studies included interventional, observational and qualitative studies focused on digital interventions for cardiometabolic conditions. Due to heterogeneity among studies, a meta-analysis was not conducted; instead, a narrative synthesis was used to summarise outcomes.

findingsSeventeen studies (7 RCTs, 1 quasi-experimental, 7 observational and 2 qualitative) evaluated digital health interventions including video consultations, telephone coaching, apps, wearables and web platforms. Telemonitoring significantly reduced HbA1c (MD = -5.5%), with modest reduction via telephone support (RR = 0.96). Telestroke programs were associated with lower stroke mortality at 6 months (HR = 0.53) and 12 months (HR = 0.58). The review also demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of digital health interventions, particularly when culturally tailored and delivered by local providers, with successful remote adaptation and high initial engagement. Interventions such as tele-endocrinology and the "Healthy Weight" program were cost-effective, contributing to improved HbA1c and quality of life. However, challenges included limited physical assessments, technical barriers and declining patient engagement over time.

conclusionsDigital health technologies, ranging from telehealth to mobile and web-based tools, can enhance cardiometabolic outcomes in rural and remote settings, though barriers such as technology access and sustained engagement remain.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular DiseasesRural Health ServicesRural PopulationTelemedicineAustraliaDigital HealthHumanscardiometabolic outcomesdigital health interventionsrural and remote Australiasystematic reviewtelehealthtelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID41451959
PMCPMC12742273

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.