We analyzed 208 studies to map the field of Connected Health, examining its growth, research types, and focus areas. Our findings reveal rapid expansion since 2013, with emphasis on technology-driven solutions for patient care. While diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases dominate Connected Health research, there is a significant gap in business-oriented studies. Our results provide a foundation for advancing interdisciplinary Connected Health research and addressing the challenges of integrating health, technology, and business.
What was the context of our study?
Connected Health aims to improve patient care by integrating digital tools, healthcare services, and stakeholders into a unified framework. Although Connected Health has evolved significantly since the early 2000s, its growth has been uneven across disciplines. As Connected Health gains traction, understanding its progress and identifying gaps in research become critical for shaping the future of healthcare delivery.
What did we do?
We conducted a systematic mapping study using seven major databases to identify Connected Health-related studies. From 240 initial publications, 208 met our inclusion criteria. We categorized these studies based on research type, empirical validation, contributions, approaches, and target medical conditions. This multidisciplinary effort combined insights from medicine, business, computer science, and engineering to create a comprehensive overview of Connected Health research.
What did we find?
Connected Health research accelerated after 2013, reflecting increased interest in patient-centered technologies. The majority of studies proposed solutions (37%) or evaluated Connected Health systems (23.5%). Case studies and experiments were the most common methods for empirical validation. Diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases were the primary conditions studied, emphasizing the applicability of CH in managing chronic diseases. Despite its technical and medical focus, CH lacks sufficient research in business and policy aspects, critical for scaling innovations.
Why is this important?
Our study highlights the potential of Connected Health to transform healthcare delivery by connecting patients, providers, and systems through technology. However, realizing this potential requires addressing gaps in interdisciplinary collaboration, especially in business and economic models. This roadmap can guide future Connected Health research and implementation, ultimately contributing to more efficient and patient-centered healthcare systems.
Reference
Karampela M, Isomursu M, Porat T, et al. The Extent and Coverage of Current Knowledge of Connected Health: Systematic Mapping Study. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21(9):e14394. https://doi.org/10.2196/14394