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Knowledge and awareness of health professionals towards telemedicine services in Northwest, Ethiopia.
Assaye, Bayou Tilahun; Jemere, Adamu Takele; Nigatu, Araya Mesfin.
Afiliação
  • Assaye BT; Department of Health Informatics, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
  • Jemere AT; Department of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
  • Nigatu AM; Department of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Digit Health ; 8: 20552076221143250, 2022.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36478985
ABSTRACT

Background:

Understanding telemedicine technology is significantly important for the implementation of a telemedicine system in resource-limited areas. Specifically, in Ethiopia, the doctor-to-patient ratio was 0.003. This has made it difficult to access healthcare services remotely. Therefore, to maximize and facilitate telemedicine adoption, it is critical to have information about health professionals' knowledge and awareness of telemedicine services. This study aimed to determine the Knowledge and Awareness of Health Professionals towards Telemedicine Services in Northwest, Ethiopia.

Methods:

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 423 health professionals working at referral hospitals from 12 February to 20 March 2020. Descriptive statistics, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done. To identify associated factors, an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used.

Result:

With a response rate of 411 (97.2%), approximately 56.4% of professionals had good knowledge and 57.4% had high awareness of telemedicine services. Information sharing culture [AOR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.89, 4.80], IT support staff [AOR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.06, 3.29], internet as a source of information [AOR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.1, 2.94], awareness [AOR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.03, 2.40], and being male [AOR = 1.73, 95% CI1.06], telemedicine training [AOR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.15, 4.72] and computer accessibility in their hospitals [AOR = 1.54,95% CI 1.01, 2.35] were significantly associated with respondents' awareness of telemedicine services.

Conclusion:

More than half of the participants were well-versed in and aware of telemedicine applications. Information sources, having IT support staff, information sharing culture, gender, and awareness were significant for telemedicine service knowledge, and telemedicine training and computer access were significant factors for health professionals' awareness of telemedicine services. As a result, health professionals should receive appropriate and ongoing awareness-raising training on telemedicine systems.
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Contexto em Saúde: 1_ASSA2030 Base de dados: MEDLINE Tipo de estudo: Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Idioma: En Revista: Digit Health Ano de publicação: 2022 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Contexto em Saúde: 1_ASSA2030 Base de dados: MEDLINE Tipo de estudo: Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Idioma: En Revista: Digit Health Ano de publicação: 2022 Tipo de documento: Article