The Knowledge, Perception and Utilisation of E-Health among Health Workers in Benin City, Nigeria
Main Article Content
Keywords
Electronic Health, ICT, Health Care Workers, Benin City
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to determine the perspective and utilization of e-Health services among healthcare workers in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare centres in Benin city.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare workers in Benin City, where the minimum sample size required for the study was calculated using the Cochrane formula (n= zpq2 /d2). Data was collected using an online semi-structured questionnaire, and data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS version 22 software with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 340 respondents participated in this study where the mean age was 31.5 ± 7.1 years and the majority of the respondents, 327 (96.2%), had good knowledge of eHealth, whereas about two third 216 (63.5%) of the respondents had ever used eHealth services. The majority 308 (90.6%) of the healthcare workers highlighted the non-availability of ICT facilities as a challenge to the implementation and utilization of eHealth services. Proposed solutions to the above challenges include government support/funding 206 (60.6%) and ICT education 186 (54.7%)
Conclusion: The lack of ICT facilities was stated as the main challenge to the implementation and utilization of eHealth services, although a majority of the respondents had good knowledge of eHealth. Proposed solutions to the challenge include government support/funding, free ICT education for health workers and Public Private Partnerships to support eHealth systems in health facilities.
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