Exploring Patient Perspectives on Telehealth Services and Barriers to Access Among Patients with Chronic Medical Conditions Attending Follow-Up Clinics at ALERT Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Date
2025
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Telehealth Service Has Become A Game-Changing Development in The Management of Chronic Diseases. It Allowed Consultations, Monitoring, And Increased Access to Health Services Remotely. Evidence on The Perspective of Patients and Barriers to Telehealth Use Among Patients with Chronic Medical Illnesses, However, Is Scant in Ethiopia.
Objective: The Aim of This Study, Therefore, Is to Assess Patients' Perceived Views About the Telehealth Service, Barriers to Access, And the Factors Affecting Its Understanding, Utilization, And Satisfaction Among Patients Attending Follow-Up Clinics for Chronic Medical Conditions in ALERT Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: The Design Adopted Is A Mixed-Method Cross-Sectional Study in Which the Structured Quantitative Survey Is Combined with Qualitative, In-Depth Interviews. The Overall Sample Included 280 Stratified Randomly Selected Patients with Chronic Conditions. Quantitative Data Analysis Was Done Through Descriptive Statistics and Logistic Regression, Whereas Thematic Analyses Were Carried Out for Qualitative Data.
Results: The Use of Telehealth Services Was High, with 81.8% Of the Respondents Using the Service, And It Was Done Mainly by Phone Consultations At 55%. Satisfaction Was Strong, with 82.1% Rating Their Experience Positively. Qualitative Findings Identified the Value of Telehealth in Avoiding Travel, Saving Time, And Improving Access, Especially for Rural and Low-Income Participants. The Critical Barriers Included A Lack of Awareness, Followed by Limited Access to Technology and Digital Literacy. Occupation and Income Have Turned Out to Be Strong Predictors of Understanding, Utilization, And Satisfaction Regarding Telehealth. The Category with The Highest Odds in The Usage of Telehealth Was Self-Employed (AOR = 46.919, 95% CI: 8.724–252.349). Younger Age and Urban Residence Are Positively Associated with Better Understanding. Income, Education, And Employment Significantly Affect Satisfaction, Where Higher Socioeconomic Classes Are Associated with More Satisfaction.
Conclusion: Although Telehealth Shows Potential to Improve Chronic Disease Management in Ethiopia, Some Huge Barriers Do Stand in Its Way. Digital Literacy, Affordability, And Technological Infrastructure, Along with Promotion and Patient Education, Must Be Considered as Targeted Approaches to Ensuring Equal Access to Telehealth.
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Telehealth, Patient perspectives, Barriers, Satisfaction