E-HEALTH ADOPTION AND ITS IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN CAMEROON 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The transmission and provision of medical information and services using computer technology and telecommunications is known as e-Health. Owoyemi (2020) asserts that the word "e-Health" is more accurate than "telemedicine" since it encompasses all facets of e-Health services, such as population data gathering, health management, education, prevention, research, and promotion of health. It is very helpful in isolated locations. According to Adeloye et al. (2020), this general technology encompasses a wide range of particular applications and technologies that are appropriate for various settings and circumstances. 

Historically, in the 1920s, commercial ships at sea were among the first to use telemedicine and e-health (Fifth research and development framework project 1998-2002, final report, April 2004 edition). To improve the process of providing healthcare services, medical information is currently transmitted to and from educational institutions, healthcare facilities, physicians, and the internet via phone lines, faxes, email, and other means. (ITU report, "Improving Access to Healthcare," October 2005). Likewise, in order to facilitate the shift and guarantee improved healthcare delivery for everyone in Africa and beyond, the WHO has been at the forefront of supporting this technology for all healthcare workers (HCWs). But a vast range of other governmental and non-governmental organisations have contributed to this change. Lewis T. et al. (2019) reported in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 2022 that e-health technology use is expanding quickly worldwide, even in low- and middle-income nations. 

According to published research, e-health has produced a number of advantages and is successfully displacing the conventional health care delivery system with suitable electronic health care delivery systems. The literature has provided ample evidence of the advantages of e-health, including increased operational effectiveness, better care quality, and a favourable return on investment (Thakkar & Davis, 2019). Healthcare organisations benefit from e-Health in a number of ways, including enhanced information availability, interoperability, more effective healthcare delivery, and general health promotion. Increased flexibility is made possible by eHealth, which enables integrated care centres, the sharing of various health and information management data, the provision or validation of diagnoses, and epidemiological tracking. It makes evidence-based guidelines more accessible and easier to use for healthcare practitioners, which may enhance adherence and reduce prescription errors (Chaudhry et al., 2018). 

Notably, it crucial to remember that e-health demands a significant ICT investment, and if it's not implemented well, there could be significant losses in terms of time, money, and effort (Qureshi, Ahmad & Nawaz, 2022). These mishaps typically stem from organisational and human issues related to adoption and implementation rather than technology-related issues. Therefore, the involvement of health professionals from the outset of the creation and continual assessment of these applications is essential to the successful integration of IT solutions into the healthcare workflow. To really improve patient care, health personnel might need to receive training on how to use IT tools. It could be necessary to convince policymakers that the upfront costs associated with the new technology would pay off. Before beginning any e-health project, it is necessary to address all of these contradicting ideas and perspectives, therefore organizations must evaluate their preparedness for technology changes (Khoja, Scott, and Gilani, 2018). Therefore, a survey will be conducted in order to examine E-health adoption and its impact on healthcare delivery in Cameroon.

Statement of the Problem

In recent times, developing nations have come to understand that they run the risk of slipping behind in the rapidly evolving networked world on the social and economic fronts if they do not provide a sufficient infrastructure and knowledge base. Although the idea of eHealth is not new, it has seen substantial changes in the last few decades due to technological advancements and rising internet usage. However, due to sociocultural, legislative, and infrastructure barriers, its adoption has been rather gradual in many regions of the world, including Cameroon (Dorsey & Topol, 2020). In general, research on technology readiness and adoption has mostly focused on two levels: the individual and the organisation (Brian et al., 2022). The majority of empirical research on IT adoption at the firm level is based on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. Since the TOE framework incorporates the environment context, which the DOI theory does not, it improves its ability to explain intra-firm innovation adoption. As a result, researchers view this model as more comprehensive.

As Ash (2018) correctly noted, organisations have the power to decide when it comes to information technology (IT), but it is ultimately up to the individuals within the organisation to decide whether or not to adopt and use the technology. For this reason, health IT implementers must receive training in handling organisational issues. Furthermore, many developing nations in West, Southern, North, East, and even Central Africa including some relatively unstable nations like the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Sudan—recognize the value of eHealth in delivering healthcare. The lack of coordination, evaluation, and documentation of e-Health programs, however, continues to be a major source of worry and World Health Organisation (WHO) has duly acknowledged the significance of e-Health and has ordered this investigation. Thus, it is believed that this assessment would serve as a foundation for understanding of eHealth adoption and its impact on healthcare delivery in Cameroon.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine E-health adoption and its impact on healthcare delivery in Cameroon. Specifically, the study will;

Assess the level of E-health adoption among healthcare providers in Cameroon.

Assess the impact of E-health adoption on the efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery in both public and private health sectors.

Assess the factors influencing the adoption of E-health technologies by healthcare professionals in Cameroon.

Assess the challenges faced by healthcare providers in adopting and integrating E-health solutions into their practices.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What is the level of eHealth adoption among healthcare providers in Cameroon?

How does eHealth adoption impact the efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery in both public and private health sectors in Cameroon?

What factors influence the adoption of eHealth technologies by healthcare professionals in Cameroon?

What challenges do healthcare providers face in adopting and integrating eHealth solutions into their practices in Cameroon?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: EHealth adoption has not significantly improved access to healthcare services in Cameroon.

Ha: EHealth adoption has significantly improved access to healthcare services in Cameroon.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will provide proof of how well these technologies work to improve patient care, expand service accessibility, and boost the performance of healthcare systems. Moreover, the results will be useful in identifying the main forces behind and obstacles to the effective adoption of health technology, and they will provide practical suggestions for maximising the implementation and utilisation of digital health solutions. This will help in the creation of healthier policies and plans, which would enhance Cameroonian healthcare delivery and results. The study will also help with efforts to increase capacity, making sure that medical professionals have the knowledge and tools necessary to use digital health technologies in their work. Nevertheless, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to E-health adoption and its impact on healthcare delivery in Cameroon.

1.7 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on E-health adoption and its impact on healthcare delivery in Cameroon. Empirically, this study will assess the level of E-health adoption among healthcare providers, the impact of E-health adoption on the efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery in both public and private health sectors, the factors influencing the adoption of E-health technologies by healthcare professionals and the challenges faced by healthcare providers in adopting and integrating E-health solutions into their practices.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to health workers in Cameroon

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Health: refers to a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in which an individual is free from illness and injury.

eHealth: the use of telecommunications and computer technology to transmit and provide medical information and services.