The Role of Telemedicine in Sexual Health: A Scoping Review on Benefits, Applications, and Challenges
摘要
Sexual health faces challenges like limited access to specialized care, social stigma, privacy concerns, and geographic barriers, especially in rural areas. Many avoid in-person consultations due to fear of judgment or confidentiality breaches. Telemedicine addresses these issues by offering remote, private, and convenient access to healthcare, improving accessibility and outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to identify the benefits, applications, and challenges of telemedicine in sexual health.
MethodsA scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from their inception until December 31, 2024. Studies were selected based on the PICOS framework (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design). Two trained reviewers independently retrieved, screened, and extracted data.
ResultsThe initial search yielded 2422 studies, and after removing 456 duplicates, 1966 unique studies were screened. Ultimately, 49 articles were included. Telephone (n = 11), videoconferencing (n = 10), and hybrid platform (web-based platforms, applications, etc.) (n = 8) were the most notable tele-sexual interventions. The key tele-sexual applications were “Sustaining STI/HIV-preventive behaviors” (n = 19), “Improving sexual ability” (n = 8), and “Providing sexual education and counseling” (n = 7). “Reducing physical and economic barriers” (n = 18), “Adherence to safer sex behaviors” (n = 14), and “Providing a comfortable and safe environment for patient-physician interaction” (n = 14) were the most important tele-sexual health benefits. The most significant tele-sexual health challenges were “Limited access to technology and the internet” (n = 8), “Concerns regarding confidentiality and privacy” (n = 7), and “The stigma or taboo of discussing sexual relations” (n = 7), highlighting key barriers to the effective use of telehealth solutions in sexual health services.
ConclusionsThis study showed that telemedicine improves sexual health by enhancing access and providing a private care environment. However, challenges like limited technology access and privacy concerns must be addressed to maximize its benefits and ensure effective, equitable healthcare.
Policy ImplicationsThis research highlights the transformative potential of telemedicine to improve sexual health services by enhancing accessibility, privacy, and the overall quality of care, particularly in underserved and rural areas where traditional healthcare access is limited. Addressing these barriers requires expanding internet access, enhancing data security to protect privacy, and launching educational campaigns to reduce stigma around sexual health.