SynthesisInternational journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care2025
Barriers and facilitators to the use of virtual wards: a systematic review of the qualitative evidence.
Synthesis in International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundVirtual wards offer an alternative to traditional inpatient care, delivering acute care, monitoring, and treatment at home to prevent hospital admissions or facilitate early discharge. The aim of our qualitative systematic review was to understand the barriers to and facilitators for the successful implementation and sustainability of virtual wards from the perspective of any involved stakeholder, using behavioural change models.
methodsThe review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024519627). The following databases were searched: Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Complete. A three-stage deductive content analysis, as recommended for applying the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behaviour) model and TDF (Theoretical Domains Framework) to qualitative data, was conducted to categorize and map the barriers and facilitators to virtual wards identified in the included studies, using the TDF domains as a guiding framework.
resultsSearches initially identified 7489 articles. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Common barriers for patients and family members were a lack of language skills, technical skills, and medical knowledge. Caregivers were also required to take on significant medical responsibilities, while patients had to remain self-motivated. The introduction of appropriate training was seen as a valuable facilitator. Healthcare providers faced numerous technological barriers that had the potential to affect care delivery. Strong leadership was an essential facilitator for effective care coordination in virtual wards. From a healthcare system perspective, the availability of resources - such as staffing, equipment, and funding -along with standardized protocols, is crucial for the successful implementation of virtual wards.
conclusionsVirtual wards can ease hospital capacity issues and support the delivery of safe and effective care in patients' own homes. However, to realize this potential, we must understand the barriers to, and facilitators of, the use and successful implementation of virtual wards for patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. This understanding will allow targeted strategies and interventions to be developed to support both the delivery and receipt of care on virtual wards.
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