Impact of telemedicine on the mental status of parents of children with CHD: A meta-analysis

Background: Studies on telemedicine concentrate largely on children with congenital heart disease (CHD), in lieu of their respective parents. The psychological responses of parents of children with CHD may impact on their child's well-being. This study aimed to examine the impact of telemedicine on the mental status of parents of children with CHD. Methods: A meta-analytic approach was used to analyze scores on the Self-reporting Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Self-reporting Depression Scale (SDS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life, Brief Report (WHOQOL-BREF) of the parents of children with CHD. Scores were compared between the telemedicine group and the control group prior to and following the intervention using the measurement of mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CIs). Results: A total of 209 studies were assessed, of which 10 were incorporated into the systematic review, while four other studies met the meta-analysis inclusion criteria. Following the intervention, the SAS and SDS scores were significantly lower in the telemedicine group in comparison to the control group (p < 0.001). Telemedicine also exerted a substantial influence on lowering the parents' SAS (p < 0.001) and SDS scores (p < 0.001), as well as improving the quality of life of the parents (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Telemedicine has a positive impact on lowering both anxiety and depression as well as improving the quality of life of parents of children with CHD.