A model for improved adoption of telemedicine in low-resource countries

Abstract

The ever-growing advancement in technology has opened up opportunities for healthcare delivery, especially in low-resource environments where access to quality healthcare services is limited. Telemedicine, the remote provision of medical services through telecommunication and information technology, holds incredible potential for bridging the healthcare gap in these underserved areas. However, the adoption of telemedicine in low-resource environments faces unique challenges and requires a tailored approach. This study aimed at designing a Telemedicine Adoption Model for low-resource environments. Furthermore, the study identified factors that affect the adoption and successful implementation of telemedicine in resource-constrained settings. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys with healthcare providers, administrators, and patients to gather comprehensive data. The preliminary research findings indicate that several key factors play a pivotal role in telemedicine adoption in low-resource environments. These factors include infrastructure accessibility, technical capability, perceived usefulness and ease of use, social acceptance, regulatory framework, cost-effectiveness, patient trust and satisfaction. The Telemedicine Adoption Model developed through this study incorporates these factors into a comprehensive framework, providing a guide for successful telemedicine implementation in low-resource environments. The proposed Telemedicine Adoption Model can serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, healthcare providers, and organizations seeking to leverage telemedicine to improve healthcare access and results in resource-constrained settings. By considering the special challenges and opportunities of low-resource environments, the TAM offers practical experiences and guidelines for implementing telemedicine solutions that are both effective and sustainable. Additionally, this study contributed to the development body of information on telemedicine adoption and highlighted the significance of context-specific approaches in overcoming barriers to healthcare access and delivery in low-resource environments. This study established a number of critical success factors which included: Attitude towards change (SD=0.731, p-value=0.045), Project planning and management (SD=0.986, p value=0.031), Commitment to Change (SD=0.233, p-value=0.027), Technology- task fit, complexity and training (SD=0.111, p-value=0.019), Management Commitment (SD=0.867, p-value=0.008), Management support (SD=0.568, p-value=0.022), Triability SD=0.981, p value=0.039), Relative advantage (SD=0.998, p-value=0.044), and user satisfaction with the system (SD=1.334, p-value=0.048). x A model for improved adoption of Telemedicine in Low Resource Countries like Uganda was developed. This model has factors such as Organizational Affiliations (ẋ=4.333), Management Commitment and Support (ẋ=3.933), User involvement and triability (ẋ=3.67), telemedicine Policies and guidelines(ẋ=4.5), Technological (ẋ=4.2), Financial(ẋ=4.4) and Human Resources (ẋ=3.67), User acceptance of telemedicine(ẋ=4.133), Organizational structure and culture (ẋ=3.67), Relative Advantage (ẋ=4.6), Hospital Management and staff(ẋ=3.47), IT department of the hospital (ẋ=3.93) and NH Telemedicine Model Outcomes (ẋ=4.8). The developed model for improved adoption of telemedicine in low-resource countries was evaluated by 15 health informatics experts who asserted that the developed model was complete