Knowledge and Perception of Telemedicine and E-health by Some Nigerian Health Care Practitioners

Abstract

PCF5 Sub-theme: Health // Telemedicine and e-health is the use of electronic information and advanced telecommunication technologies to support long distance clinical health care,patient’s health records, patients and professional health related education, public health and health administration. As Nigeria enters the world of telehealth, there are concerns about the level of information and knowledge of health care providers who are to operate the programme. // In this study, 200 healthcare providers including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, medical records officers radiographers, senior nursing and senior medical students were respondents in the assessment of their knowledge and perception using interviews and semi-structured questionnaire. 83 (41.5%) of the respondents had poor knowledge of telehealth and only 42 (21%) were aware of the country’s proposed telehealth programme. 141 (70.5%) will use telehealth services and 138 (69%) will recommend its use to others. 134 (67%) believed it should be included in the three tier health system while 114 (57%) thought it should be a special programme. 162 (81%) of the respondents were positive on the relevance and benefits of telehealth introduction to the Nigerian health system. // This result underscored the need for stake holders wide consultation and public enlightenment prior to the formulation of government policy on telemedicine due to current poor level of information. Furthermore, there is need for man power development for this programme which possesses the potential of taking specialized healthcare services to the otherwise unreached while also improving the knowledge and skills of healthcare practitioners in remote locations through distance learning. // Paper ID 536 Key words: telemedicine, healthcare, distance learning and telecommunications.