Browsing by Author "Tamiru, Belay"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Utilization of Telemedicine in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    (Addis Abeba university, 2013-06) Tamiru, Belay; Teferra, Solomon(PhD)
    Background: The benefits of telemedicine services are very significant to the society for improving the quality and access of health in the health care delivery system. However, the number of service provision sites is limited, inaccessible and the service is underutilized by the majority of the community due to various factors in Ethiopia. Objective: The objective of this research is to explore the level of telemedicine utilization, in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital from February to April 2013 among 422 health professionals. Quantitative data were collected through self-administered pre-tested questionnaires and complemented by a qualitative data using self interview questions and observation checklist. Quantitative data were initially entered in to EPi-3.5.1 version and exported to SPSS version 16.0 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, COR, AOR and 95% CI were calculated. Logistic regressions were carried out to identify the major predictors' of telemedicine underutilization. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: Majority of participants 65% were males and medical specialists were 56.3%. Of the total respondents only 40.6% used telemedicine services and 84.5% of them used the services less than five times a year. Among other factors technology (AOR=9.06 95%CI 3.08, 26.63) and administrative problems (AOR=3.52 95%CI 1.79, 6.95) and legal issues (AOR=2.21 95%CI 1.14, 4.26) were identified the major predictor for telemedicine underutilization. Lack of internet connectivity, system unreliability, system user un- friendly and lack of users' technical assistant were some of the technological barriers reported in both quantitative and qualitative findings. Conclusion and recommendation: This study revealed that telemedicine services are generally underutilized. Technology and administrative problems; and legal issues were identified as the major factors. Among technological barriers internet connectivity and system reliability are the major problems identified. Knowing and identifying the factors was vital for considering future in depth studies and taking appropriate measures to fix the problems faced in the portfolio. Key words: -- Telemedicine, Technological barriers, Telemedicine utilization, Tikur Anbessa SpecializedHospital.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Utilization of Telemedicine in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2013-06) Tamiru, Belay; Teferra, Solomon (PhD); Kumie, Abera (PhD)
    Background: The benefits of telemedicine services are very significant to the society for improving the quality and access of health in the health care delivery system. However, the number of service provision sites is limited, inaccessible and the service is underutilized by the majority of the community due to various factors in Ethiopia. Objective: The objective of this research is to explore the level of telemedicine utilization, in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital from February to April 2013 among 422 health professionals. Quantitative data were collected through self-administered pre-tested questionnaires and complemented by a qualitative data using self interview questions and observation checklist. Quantitative data were initially entered in to EPi-3.5.1 version and exported to SPSS version 16.0 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, COR, AOR and 95% CI were calculated. Logistic regressions were carried out to identify the major predictors' of telemedicine underutilization. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: Majority of participants 65% were males and medical specialists were 56.3%. Of the total respondents only 40.6% used telemedicine services and 84.5% of them used the services less than five times a year. Among other factors technology (AOR=9.06 95%CI 3.08, 26.63) and administrative problems (AOR=3.52 95%CI 1.79, 6.95) and legal issues (AOR=2.21 95%CI 1.14, 4.26) were identified the major predictor for telemedicine underutilization. Lack of internet connectivity, system unreliability, system user un- friendly and lack of users' technical assistant were some of the technological barriers reported in both quantitative and qualitative findings. Conclusion and recommendation: This study revealed that telemedicine services are generally underutilized. Technology and administrative problems; and legal issues were identified as the major factors. Among technological barriers internet connectivity and system reliability are the major problems identified. Knowing and identifying the factors was vital for considering future in depth studies and taking appropriate measures to fix the problems faced in the portfolio. Key words: -- Telemedicine, Technological barriers, Telemedicine utilization, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital.