Keyword: Telemedicine

ABSTRACT: Digital technologies are increasingly used to support healthcare and social care for older adults, yet their effects on access and satisfaction depend on technological, individual, and organizational conditions. This structured narrative review synthesized current evidence on the impact of digital technologies on access to and satisfaction with health and social care among older adults. A comprehensive literature search was conducted iteratively from February 2025 through May 2026 in seven international and regional databases and search platforms. English- and Russian-language publications addressing older adults, digital health technologies, healthcare or social care access, satisfaction, and related implementation outcomes were considered. Forty-eight publications were included. Because study designs, populations, technologies, and outcomes were heterogeneous, findings were synthesized narratively and organized thematically. Evidence most consistently suggested that telemedicine, electronic health technologies, mobile health technologies, remote monitoring, mobile applications, and wearable devices may reduce geographical and mobility-related barriers, support continuity of care and chronic disease management, and improve satisfaction when services are usable, trusted, and adequately supported. Satisfaction findings were more context-dependent than access outcomes. Digital literacy, connectivity, affordability, interface usability, privacy concerns, technophobia, and access to technical or professional support repeatedly influenced adoption. Evidence specifically addressing social care, long-term care, and integration between healthcare and social services was comparatively limited. Digital technologies may complement conventional care for older adults, but age-appropriate design, digital-literacy support, privacy safeguards, non-digital alternatives, and integration into existing care pathways are important for equitable implementation.

ABSTRACT: Telemedicine has become a vital element of modern surgical practice, facilitating virtual consultations, intraoperative collaboration, and postoperative monitoring. One of its most innovative applications is remote proctoring, or teleproctoring—the real-time supervision and assistance of surgical procedures across distances. The COVID-19 epidemic has accelerated the impact of these technologies on surgical education, credentialing, and global access to specialized expertise. This narrative review synthesizes literature from 2005 to 2025 obtained from PubMed, ResearchGate, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The emphasis includes telemedicine and remote proctoring in surgical care, education, and quality assurance. Chosen materials comprise original investigations, systematic reviews, and policy documents that pertain to technical platforms, clinical outcomes, educational applications, implementation issues, and regulatory considerations.  Modern teleproctoring technologies include secure, low-latency, high-definition video broadcasts enhanced by augmented reality features and telestration capabilities. The available evidence, primarily from observational studies, confirms the approach's viability, cost-effectiveness, improved training efficiency, and high user acceptance across disciplines such as minimally invasive, robotic, and endoscopic surgery. However, inconsistencies in outcome measurements, a lack of randomized controlled trials, and varying legal frameworks restrict wider applicability. The safety profiles appear promising, yet data deficiencies remain. Telemedicine and remote proctoring are developing into integral components of surgical care. Essential future directions include the implementation of artificial intelligence solutions, the development of standardized outcome metrics, the execution of comparative research, the enhancement of cybersecurity measures, and the promotion of fair access in resource-constrained settings. When integrated within strong regulatory and ethical frameworks, remote proctoring has the potential to function as a fundamental pillar of efficient and interconnected global surgical practice.