Clinical Guidelines for Virtual Health Assessment and Care: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT

Aim
To locate and synthesise clinical guidelines for nurses and other health professionals undertaking routine virtual health (telehealth) assessment, triage and follow‐up care. To locate practice guidelines where clinician and client are not in the same physical location and health assessments are undertaken ‘virtually’.


Design
This review used JBI methodology for scoping reviews and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Scoping Review extension (PRISMA‐ScR).


Data Sources
Search considered primary research, practice guidelines, case reports, expert opinions, professional organisation web‐based resources and grey literature. Medline (Ovid), Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL) and Scopus databases were searched in relation to all health professions. Grey literature search included guideline databases, literature databases, customised Google search engines, targeted websites and consultation with content experts. Citation searching was included.


Results
Search identified 2359 peer‐reviewed articles and 31 sources of grey literature (1997–2024). After screening, 22 peer‐reviewed and 9 grey literature sources met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Studies were spread across diverse practice settings. Chronological sequencing provided visibility to innovations in telehealth practice over time from telephone‐based practice to the introduction of video conferencing and the use of wearable devices for the transmission of remotely recorded clinical information.


Conclusions
Standardised guidelines to safe practice for virtual health assessment are not well documented. The paucity of clinically orientated guidelines may be due to complexity and the resourcing needed to maintain clinically current guidelines across the full breadth of clinical specialisations, practice settings and telehealth modalities. Further research and development are needed in this growing area of care.


Impact
The review highlights that clinically relevant guidelines are critical to safety and quality in virtual health contexts. Findings will inform future design and development of clinical practice guidelines for nurses engaged in virtual health assessment, triage and follow‐up care.


Patient or Public Contribution
Not applicable.