A CRITICAL INVESTIGATION ON THE ROLE OF TELEMEDICINE IN PROMOTING HEALTHCARE OUTCOME IN NIGERIA.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The term originates from the Greek word "Tele," meaning distance, and the Latin word "Mederi," meaning to heal. Telemedicine, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is the use of information and communication technologies by healthcare professionals to provide healthcare services when distance is a significant factor. These services include the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, as well as research, evaluation, and continuing education for healthcare providers. The ultimate goal is to improve the health of individuals and communities. Telemedicine refers to the provision of healthcare services and exchange of medical information utilising telecommunication methods across distances (Eriotis et al., 2018). 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine worldwide, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing the burden on healthcare facilities and maintaining continuity of care during crises (Smith et al., 2020). Telemedicine has seen significant relevance in the healthcare sector due to the advancement of technology, increased demand for healthcare services, and the need to bridge the gap in the healthcare delivery, particularly in the underserved areas (Olu, 2019).  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the world, with less than four doctors per 10,000 people (WHO, 2020). Nigeria as a country faces significant healthcare challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and unequal distribution of healthcare services across urban and rural areas (Adepoju, 2020). Telemedicine can address the shortage of healthcare professionals by optimizing the use of available resources and enabling task-shifting through remote supervision and training (Adepoju et al., 2020). The implementation and practice of telemedicine in Nigeria encounter several obstacles, including technological limitations, regulatory issues, and socio-cultural factors (Eke et al., 2021). Issues related to data privacy and security, limited digital literacy among healthcare providers and patients, and resistance to change pose significant obstacles to the widespread adoption of telemedicine (Edeh & Ekpo, 2021).

Different initiatives have been put in place to demonstrate the potentials of telemedicine in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan have collaborated on telemedicine projects to enhance medical education and patient care (Oluwafemi & Samuel, 2019). Therefore, with these complexities, it is imperative to critical investigate the role of telemedicine in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria.

Statement of the Study

The Nigeria healthcare system is plagued with challenges which necessitates the emergence and prevalence of telemedicine in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria. With over 200 million inhabitants, the shortage of trained medical personnel, lack of medical resources and equipment further negates the growth and accessibility of healthcare in Nigeria. The healthcare challenge is further aggravated by poor infrastructural development, lack of relevant medical resources, under-trained medical staffs, and socio-economic barriers (World Health Organization, 2020) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the world, with less than four doctors per 10,000 people (WHO, 2020). This shortage is more prevalent in rural areas in Nigeria.

The emergence of telemedicine has become essential in addressing these challenges (Bashir and Bastola, 2018). Telemedicine has the potential of addressing some of these challenges by increasing access to healthcare service, improving healthcare outcome, and reducing health care cost (Adeoye and Olaogun, 2020). It is therefore imperative for this study to investigate the role telemedicine plays in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria.

Objectives of the Study

The primary objective of this study is to critically investigate the role telemedicine plays in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria. Other specific objectives are:

Determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in providing quality healthcare in Nigeria.

Determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in effectively providing continuous care and monitoring for patients in Nigeria

Determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in improving  patient’s satisfaction in Nigeria

Determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in ensuring health improvement of patients in Nigeria.

Research Question

Here are some research questions relevant to the study,

Does telemedicine play a significant role in effectively providing continuous care and monitoring for patients in Nigeria?

Does telemedicine play a significant role in providing quality healthcare in Nigeria?

Does telemedicine play a significant role in improving patients’ satisfaction in Nigeria?

Does telemedicine play a significant role in ensuring health improvement of patients in Nigeria?

Research Hypothesis

These research hypotheses will validate this study;

H0: Telemedicine does not play a significant role in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria.

H1: Telemedicine plays a significant role in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria.

Significance of the Study

Significance of the study on critically investigating the role of telemedicine in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria would contribute to existing literature on telemedicine, it will also aid other researchers in there literature review. 

This study would expose policy makers and relevant stakeholders’ role telemedicine play in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria.

The result from this study will contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regards to the role telemedicine play in promoting healthcare delivery outcome in Nigeria.

Scope of the Study

This study focuses on critically investigating the role of telemedicine in promotion healthcare outcome in Nigeria. Empirically, the study would, determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in providing quality healthcare in Nigeria, determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in effectively providing continuous care and monitoring for patients in Nigeria, determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in improving patient’s satisfaction in Nigeria, and determine whether telemedicine plays a significant role in ensuring health improvement of patients in Nigeria.

 This study would be carried out in Nigeria.

Limitation of the Study

The study may not be carried out for an extensive period of time to critically investigate the role of telemedicine in promotion healthcare outcome in Nigeria. The sample size is also limited to Nigeria which may not reflect the overall role telemedicine plays in promoting healthcare outcome in Nigeria.

The study relies of self-reported data, which is subject to biases, errors and inaccuracies.

Definition of Terms

Telemedicine: refers to the delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.

Healthcare outcomes: The changes in health status or health indicators that result from healthcare interventions.

Investigation: The action of investigating something or someone; formal or systematic examination or research: