Includes CD

Thesis (MSc) - CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

Includes REFERENCES: sheets 75-95

ABSTRACT Telemedicine has been depicted as the utilization of electronic data and innovations to give and bolster healthcare when there is no proximity between members. It is a concept that is at the early stage of adoption but has proven to an extent its ability to provide instant access to health care as well as improve the quality of care given. It could have an impact on rapidly rising healthcare costs, both economically and clinically. Over the years, there has been a series of the outbreak of Lassa Fever in Nigeria, from 2012 up until 2019 and it is an extremely serious health issue in Edo state. Lassa Fever is a viral fever; it is known as a lethal disease that has taken several lives since it was first detected in Nigeria. Ribavirin is the only antiviral drug for treating Lassa fever. It has been proven, to be effective within six days of symptom display and the risk of complications reported to be less than five percent after usage. The purpose of this study is to look at the perception, knowledge and willingness of physicians to telemedicine as well as to study if it is a tool to monitor and possibly reduce the spread of Lassa fever. The introduction of the telemedicine might be rocky because of certain barriers, for instance possible legal issues, hacking of database, disruption of doctor-patient relationship; poor internet coverage and lack of power supply are just a few. It is important to understand physician?s perception and knowledge as this will help the governing body of the hospitals to know what measures to take in gradually introducing telemedicine into the system. Physicians in general hospitals located in Edo state, were targeted for the research. A web-based survey divided to the following sections was used; demographic characteristics, computers access and literacy, knowledge of telemedicine, perceptions of telemedicine, clinicians? perception of the benefits and barriers of telemedicine, willingness about telemedicine, providing better services using telemedicine and monitoring Lassa Fever. The findings of the study reported that clinicians have low knowledge about the concept but they have high perception and willingness to use telemedicine in monitoring Lassa fever. It provided a better understanding of the degree to which professionals know and perceive this concept and also assess their willingness to adopt it in the monitoring of Lassa fever. Keywords: Telemedicine, Knowledge, Perception, Lassa Fever, Willingness General Hospitals, Edo State.