Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Telemedicine use in Sub-Saharan Africa: Barriers and policy recommendations for Covid-19 and beyond.
Dodoo, Joana Eva; Al-Samarraie, Hosam; Alzahrani, Ahmed Ibrahim.
  • Dodoo JE; College of Distance Education, Department of Business Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
  • Al-Samarraie H; School of Media and Performing Arts, Coventry University, Coventry, UK. Electronic address: h.alsamarraie@coventry.ac.uk.
  • Alzahrani AI; Computer Science Department, Community College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Med Inform ; 151: 104467, 2021 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1202311
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Telemedicine has been a useful healthcare alternative in the fight to contain the recent Covid-19 global pandemic. Yet the extent of its application and efficacy as an alternative route for healthcare provision remains a major concern for clinicians and patients.

OBJECTIVE:

This study sought to identify barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

METHOD:

A systematic review of the literature was conducted by applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for identifying, selecting, evaluating and interpreting findings.

RESULTS:

Our results from 66 empirical studies revealed a wide usage of telemedicine technology across SSA countries but also showed insufficient evidence of usage for fighting Covid-19 infection. Further, technological, organisational, legal and regulatory, individual, financial, and cultural aspects were identified as the major barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine in SSA. A list of recommendations was produced for each telemedicine barrier.

CONCLUSION:

Our review shows current trends in telemedicine application, as well as highlighting critical barriers for consideration by healthcare decision makers. This review offers a number of recommendations to support wider implementation and sustainable usage of telemedicine in SSA.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Reviews / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Int J Med Inform Journal subject: Medical Informatics Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ijmedinf.2021.104467

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Reviews / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Int J Med Inform Journal subject: Medical Informatics Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ijmedinf.2021.104467