Joana Eva Dodoo1, Hosam Al-Samarraie2, Ahmed Ibrahim Alzahrani3. 1. College of Distance Education, Department of Business Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. 2. School of Media and Performing Arts, Coventry University, Coventry, UK. Electronic address: h.alsamarraie@coventry.ac.uk. 3. Computer Science Department, Community College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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.
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-19infection. 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.
Authors: Johannes Knitza; Till Orlemann; Maximilian Gerner; Nicolas Vuillerme; Timothée Aubourg; Eva-Maria Messner; Yannik Terhorst; Verena Hörmann; Ingo Ganzleben; Hannah Schenker; Georg Schett; Raja Atreya; Markus F Neurath Journal: JMIR Mhealth Uhealth Date: 2022-05-03 Impact factor: 4.947