A Framework for Telemedicine Care: A Case of Nandi County – Kenya

Abstract

Telemedicine is one of the technologies that use the knowledge of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to curb geographical barriers while increasing access to healthcare services. This study aimed developing a framework for telemedicine care in Kenya. This study was done in health facilities in Nandi County. The specific objectives of the study were: To examine emergency healthcare need suitable for telemedicine care in Nandi County -Kenya; to analyze the readiness for telemedicine care and to design a suitable telemedicine care framework. This study was conducted using crosssectional descriptive survey research design. The study sampled 4 doctors, 59 nurses, 12 clinical officers, 1 pharmacist and 4 pharmaceutical technologists, making it a sample size of 80 from target population of 650 healthcare workers working at the County hospital two sub county hospitals and 2 health centres. Structured questionnaire and a focused group discussion guide were used to collect the data. Pilot testing for the instruments were done to ascertain to improve on face and content validities. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS software version 20 where both descriptive statistics on emergency healthcare need levels for telemedicine care and the readiness for telemedicine care were computed. Analyzed results were presented using table, pie-chart and bar graphs. From the findings it was evident that 77.5% of the respondents supported that specialist referral services are critically needed. With respect to direct patient care services 82.5% of them supports that these services are critical, 53.8% of the respondents accepted that medical education and mentoring is a critical emergency healthcare need. Concerning remote patient monitoring, 45% of the respondents agreed that it is a critical healthcare need. 51.3% of the respondents perceive that Tele-nursing is a critical healthcare need and on Tele-Pharmacy, 54.5% of them perceive that it is critical. 20% of all respondents perceive that Teleradiology is a critical emergency healthcare need, with less than 20% perceiving that it is least critical.