KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF TELEMEDICINE SERVICES AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORKING AT REFERRAL HOSPITALS IN AMHARA REGION, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2020.

Abstract

Abstract Background: -Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare services when the distance is a critical factor. Despite this technology, it is an emerging and infancy technology in a developing country, utilizing the technology for delivering healthcare services is low in Ethiopia's health care system. To maximize the adoption of telemedicine services, the user-oriented development of advanced systems integrating knowledge and awareness of telemedicine services among health professionals is necessary. Therefore, to facilitate this adoption, it prominently requires information about the knowledge and awareness of telemedicine services among health professionals. Objectives: -This research was conducted to determine the Knowledge, Awareness, and associated factors of Telemedicine services among health professionals working at Referral Hospitals in Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: - An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 423 health professionals working at Referral Hospitals in the Amhara region from February 12-March 20/2020. The data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Desk review was done to assure the quality of data and then the data was entered into EPI INFO version 7 for checking its completeness and consistency and then exported into SPSS version 20 for further statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics, bivariable, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval Result: About 56% source information toward telemedicine services Conclusion: More than half of the respondents had good knowledge and high awareness of telemedicine services. The Information source, having IT support staff, information sharing culture, gender and awareness were the most significant factors for the knowledge of telemedicine service, and telemedicine training and computer access were significant factors of awareness of health professionals towards telemedicine services. 6 Keywords: knowledge, awareness, telemedicine services, health professionals