THE EFFECTS OF TELEMEDICINE ON ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE AT THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL BAMENDA /
Asong, Alungtenki Irise
THE EFFECTS OF TELEMEDICINE ON ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE AT THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL BAMENDA / ALUNGTENKI IRISE ASONG; SUPERVISOR: ASST. PROF. DR. KAĞAN DOĞRUYOL - 55 sheets; 31 cm. Includes CD
Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Health Care Organizations Management Department
Includes bibliography (sheets 45-52)
ABSTRACT
Background: Cameroon has a critical shortage of healthcare professionals according to the classifications of the World Health Organization (WHO) despite the fact that health is one of its Millennium Development Goals. Telemedicine, which involves the usage of information and telecommunication in developing necessary expertise and information for the provision of healthcare services has the potential of addressing the issue and improving the health conditions of rural patients especially in the Anglophone regions that have been plaque for over half a decade now with political crises, lockdowns, fighting and killings.
Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role played by telemedicine in accessing quality healthcare at the Regional Hospital Bamenda.
Method: The study adopted a quantitative approach. Questionnaires were used for data collection for a sample size of 266 randomly selected respondents using primary data. The data was analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 22. Linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between corporate image and public relations.
Results: The results reveal that telemedicine was used in accessing quality healthcare at the Bamenda Regional Hospital digital consultations, monitoring and therapy. The most used telemedical tools were phone calls, video calls, video conference, internet among others. The results also revealed that there was a statistically positive and significant relationship between telemonitoring and teletherapy with access to quality healthcare whereas the impact of teleconsultation was insignificant and access to quality healthcare at RHB. Also, tele-cost had no impact on access to healthcare while wait time increased with access to quality healthcare. The study further revealed that fear of Cybercrime and Misuse, Misinterpretations and Misunderstandings and no personal contact with doctor were among the major challenges in implementing telemedicine effectively.
Conclusion/Implication: The study recommended that healthcare organizations in Cameroon should more and better 21st century tools and technology and prioritize budget to fund telemedicine activities and to purchase and use latest technology to implement telemedicine and that they should also make more efforts to foster quality healthcare access.
Medical care--Dissertations, Academic
Telecommunication in medicine--Dissertations, Academic
THE EFFECTS OF TELEMEDICINE ON ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE AT THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL BAMENDA / ALUNGTENKI IRISE ASONG; SUPERVISOR: ASST. PROF. DR. KAĞAN DOĞRUYOL - 55 sheets; 31 cm. Includes CD
Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Health Care Organizations Management Department
Includes bibliography (sheets 45-52)
ABSTRACT
Background: Cameroon has a critical shortage of healthcare professionals according to the classifications of the World Health Organization (WHO) despite the fact that health is one of its Millennium Development Goals. Telemedicine, which involves the usage of information and telecommunication in developing necessary expertise and information for the provision of healthcare services has the potential of addressing the issue and improving the health conditions of rural patients especially in the Anglophone regions that have been plaque for over half a decade now with political crises, lockdowns, fighting and killings.
Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role played by telemedicine in accessing quality healthcare at the Regional Hospital Bamenda.
Method: The study adopted a quantitative approach. Questionnaires were used for data collection for a sample size of 266 randomly selected respondents using primary data. The data was analyzed with the aid of SPSS version 22. Linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between corporate image and public relations.
Results: The results reveal that telemedicine was used in accessing quality healthcare at the Bamenda Regional Hospital digital consultations, monitoring and therapy. The most used telemedical tools were phone calls, video calls, video conference, internet among others. The results also revealed that there was a statistically positive and significant relationship between telemonitoring and teletherapy with access to quality healthcare whereas the impact of teleconsultation was insignificant and access to quality healthcare at RHB. Also, tele-cost had no impact on access to healthcare while wait time increased with access to quality healthcare. The study further revealed that fear of Cybercrime and Misuse, Misinterpretations and Misunderstandings and no personal contact with doctor were among the major challenges in implementing telemedicine effectively.
Conclusion/Implication: The study recommended that healthcare organizations in Cameroon should more and better 21st century tools and technology and prioritize budget to fund telemedicine activities and to purchase and use latest technology to implement telemedicine and that they should also make more efforts to foster quality healthcare access.
Medical care--Dissertations, Academic
Telecommunication in medicine--Dissertations, Academic