ASSESS THE ROLE OF TELEMEDICINE IN IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS IN NIGERIA.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The term stems from Tele, a Greek word that means distance, and Mederi, a Latin word that means to heal. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 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. Telemedicine is defined as the delivery of health care and sharing of medical knowledge over a distance using telecommunication means (Eriotis et al., 2018). 

Despite being a fundamental human right, most citizens in Nigeria still do not have access to quality healthcare service, especially, in the rural areas. Where access to healthcare is often met with lack of infrastructure, lack of skilled medical personnel, and lack of resources (Adepoju, 2020). Developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have integrated telemedicine into their healthcare systems, offering a range of services from virtual consultations to remote patient monitoring (Dorsey & Topol, 2020). These developing countries have proved the effectiveness of telemedicine in the improvement of healthcare services.  

Rural regions in Nigeria are often characterized by inadequate healthcare infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and limited access to medical facilities. 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). The role telemedicine plays in improving accessibility to healthcare services in Nigeria had been impeded by several barriers which include; poor internet connectivity, high costs of telecommunication services, lack of technical expertise among healthcare providers, and inadequate policy frameworks (Oluwafemi & Samuel, 2019). This shortage is more prevalent in rural areas in Nigeria. It is therefore necessary to study the role telemedicine plays in the accessibility of healthcare services in rural areas.

Statement of the Problem

Rural areas in Nigeria face several challenges ranging from poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and lack of access to healthcare services etc. The healthcare challenge rural dwellers face is further aggravated by poor infrastructural development, lack of relevant medical resources, under-trained medical staffs, and socio-economic barriers (World Health Organization, 2020) The emergence of telemedicine has the propensity of mitigating some of these issues by providing remote access to medical care (Ojo, 2020). However, the adoption and implementation of telemedicine in Nigeria are limited by several factors, including technological, regulatory, and socio-cultural barriers (Adenekan et al, 2020).

This study seeks to shed more light on the role of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services in rural areas in Nigeria.

Objectives of the Study

The primary objective of this study is to assess the role of telemedicine in improving accessibility to healthcare services in rural areas in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to:

Ascertain the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving the rural communities in Nigeria.

Ascertain the various contributions of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services in rural communities.

Ascertain the barriers limiting the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving rural communities.

Proffer recommendation for improving the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving rural communities in Nigeria.

Research Questions

Here are some research questions relevant to the study

What is the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving the rural communities in Nigeria?

What are the various contributions of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services in rural communities?

What are the barriers limiting the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving rural communities?

What are the Proffer recommendation for improving the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving rural communities in Nigeria?

Research Hypothesis

The following hypotheses will validate this study; 

H0: There are no relevant contributions of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services in rural communities.

H1: There are relevant contributions of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services in rural communities.

Significance of the Study

Significance of the study on assessing the role of telemedicine in improving accessibility to healthcare services in rural areas in Nigeria would contribute to existing literatures on telemedicine, it will also aid other researchers in there literature review. 

The study will shed more light on the relevance of telemedicine in improving accessibility to healthcare services in rural areas in Nigeria

The result from this study will contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regards to the role telemedicine plays in improving accessibility to healthcare services in rural Nigeria.

Scope of the Study

This study would focus on assessing the role of telemedicine in improving accessibility to healthcare services in rural areas in Nigeria. Empirically, this study will, ascertain the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving the rural communities in Nigeria, ascertain the various contributions of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services in rural communities, ascertain the barriers limiting the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving rural communities, and proffer recommendation for improving the effectiveness of telemedicine in serving rural communities in Nigeria. This study will be carried out in Nigeria.

1.8 Limitations of the Study.

The study may not be carried out for an extensive period of time to assess the role of telemedicine in improving accessibility to healthcare services in rural areas in Nigeria.  The sample size is also limited to rural areas in Nigeria which may not reflect the overall role of telemedicine in improving accessibility to healthcare services in rural areas in Nigeria. 

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

1.9 Definition of Term

Telemedicine: The use of telecommunication technology to provide clinical health care from a distance.

Healthcare Provider: An individual or institution that provides medical services to patients.

Infrastructure: The fundamental facilities and systems necessary for the operation of telemedicine services, including internet connectivity, telecommunications hardware, and software.

Adoption: The acceptance and integration of telemedicine practices by healthcare providers and patients.

Rural area: Regions located outside cities and towns, often characterized by low population density and limited access to healthcare facilities.