Telemedicine and COVID-19: Experience of Medical Doctors in Cameroon

Authors

  • Kouotou Emmanuel Armand
  • Ananfack Nguefack Eric Gaël
  • Ngowa Nzali Franck Marcien
  • Ndjitoyap Ndam Antonin Wilson
  • Mendouga Menye Coralie Reine
  • Ndjitoyap Ndam Elie Claude

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ajhmn.666

Keywords:

COVID-19, Telemedicine, Doctors, Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction : Since the beginning of Coronavirus disease2019 (COVID-19), hospitals and health centres have become sites  of potential contamination and spread of the virus, and have had to reorganize  their working environments to limit infections of patients and health care providers while continuing to render health services for those affected by other ailments. The purpose of the study was to conduct a descriptive study to assess the practice of telemedicine among Cameroonian medical doctors through an electronic survey.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from May to June 2020 using an online data collection form designed on Google Forms. The questions dealt with socio-demographic data, the cancellation rate of appointments, the practice of teleconsultation, the frequency of telephone use, the means of teleconsultation used and the quality of the doctor-patient relationship. Participants comprised all physicians practicing in Cameroon using information and communication technologies

Results: A total of 253 participants were included, 56.5% of which were women. Physicians from the ten regions of the country were represented. Twenty percent (20.2%) of physicians practiced teleconsultation, of which 3.2% continued teleconsultations while in quarantine. Seventy-five percent (75.4%) of physicians used multiple communication modalities at the same time; the most used modality in combination with others was the WhatsApp android application. Forty-six percent (41.6%) of participants judged that the doctor-patient relationship was poor during teleconsultations.

Conclusion and recommendation: The practice of telemedicine is not widespread and is poorly framed in this setting. Regulatory authorities should put in place regulations and provide training to frame and ease access to the use of telemedicine

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Author Biographies

Kouotou Emmanuel Armand

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaound I

Yaounde Central Hospital

 

Ananfack Nguefack Eric Gaël

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Ngowa Nzali Franck Marcien

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaound I

Ndjitoyap Ndam Antonin Wilson

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaound I

Mendouga Menye Coralie Reine

National Public Health Laboratory, Yaound (Cameroon)

Public Health Emergency operations Coordination Center, Yaound (Cameroon)

Ndjitoyap Ndam Elie Claude

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaound I

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Published

2021-03-03

How to Cite

Armand, K. ., Gaël, A., Marcien, N. ., Wilson, N. ., Reine, M. ., & Claude, N. . (2021). Telemedicine and COVID-19: Experience of Medical Doctors in Cameroon. American Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing Practice, 6(1), 32–37. https://doi.org/10.47672/ajhmn.666

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