Digital Health Platforms and Telehealth Use in Sickle Cell Disease: Scoping Review
Adetimilehin S Ariyo, Ayobami Aiyeolemi, Blessing Okoye, Damilola Adeteye, Elizabeth Caldwell, Hyekyun Rhee, Alexa StuifbergenAbstract
Background
Digital health tools and telehealth expanded rapidly during and after COVID-19, but their role in sickle cell disease (SCD) care remains fragmented. Objective: To map peer-reviewed evidence on (1) study characteristics of digital health and telehealth in SCD, (2) barriers to use, and (3) reported effects on patient outcomes, satisfaction, care access, and delivery.
Methods
Following Arksey & O’Malley and PRISMA-ScR, we searched PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science (July 2025) for English-language, peer-reviewed studies evaluating digital health (e.g., apps, text messaging, web platforms, wearables, EHR-linked tools) or telehealth (phone or video). Eligible designs included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods primary research involving children, adolescents, adults with SCD, or caregivers. Dual independent screening and standardized data extraction were used; quality appraisal was not performed per scoping review guidance.
Results
Forty-six studies met the criteria. Mobile application interventions predominated (∼52%); telehealth/telemedicine accounted for ∼30%. Common foci included adherence, pain, engagement/usability, and access. Forty-three of 46 studies reported barrier on barriers or challenges. The most frequent barriers were (a) usability/interface and connectivity (technological), (b) engagement/motivation and digital literacy (user-related), and (c) cost/logistics and reimbursement/policy (contextual). Experimental studies reported improvements in adherence and pain-related outcomes in several trials, while descriptive studies most often reported high satisfaction/acceptability and perceived improvements in access and self-management.
Conclusions
Digital health and telehealth for SCD span multiple platforms, revealing both implementation barriers and positive outcomes, including improved medication possession ratios and satisfaction scores. It also holds promise for SCD adherence support, pain self-management, and care access, but real-world uptake is constrained by usability, engagement, and structural barriers (cost, connectivity, reimbursement). Future work should include equity-focused implementation strategies, standardized outcomes, and longitudinal evaluations.