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Remotely monitoring patients with long-term conditions is less cost effective than usual care, a UK trial suggests.
The British Medical Journal study, involving almost 1,000 patients, indicated the total costs for those using "tele-health" were higher.
It follows a recent study suggesting the use of such technology fails to improve patients' quality of life.
But the Department of Health said it had already addressed problems raised by the research.
Tele-health uses technology in patients' homes to monitor their condition and send data back to medical staff. For example, tracking changes in blood pressure or blood-sugar levels.
The principle is that it reduces the need for hospital visits while allowing clinicians to keep an eye on a patient's condition.
Butt the researchers said most of the previous studies into the technology's use came from the US, used very small numbers of patients or were funded by industry.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21874978
The British Medical Journal study, involving almost 1,000 patients, indicated the total costs for those using "tele-health" were higher.
It follows a recent study suggesting the use of such technology fails to improve patients' quality of life.
But the Department of Health said it had already addressed problems raised by the research.
Tele-health uses technology in patients' homes to monitor their condition and send data back to medical staff. For example, tracking changes in blood pressure or blood-sugar levels.
The principle is that it reduces the need for hospital visits while allowing clinicians to keep an eye on a patient's condition.
Butt the researchers said most of the previous studies into the technology's use came from the US, used very small numbers of patients or were funded by industry.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21874978