ATTITUDE, WILLINGNESS AND FACTORS ON THE USE OF MOBILE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES AT DESSIE TOWN NORTHEAST ETHIOPIA, 2019.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Mobile health describes the use of portable electronic devices with software applications to provide health services and manage patient information. Objective: The objective of this study was attitude, willingness and factors on the use of mobile health technology among health professionals working in public health facilities at Dessie town Northeast Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in March to April 2019 among 422 health professionals. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi-Info version 7.2.1 and SPSS version 20 respectively. Descriptive statistics, Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to show the presence of association between an explanatory and outcome variables. Odds ratio at 95% confidence level was used to describe the strength of association. Result: out of 422 study participants, 323 (76.54 %), (95%CI): [72.5, 80.3]) had favorable attitude and 338 (80.1 %), (95%CI) [76.1, 83.6]) health professionals had willingness to use mobile health technology. Age [AOR= 2.50, (95%CI): 1.22, 5.22], gender [AOR = 2.13, (95% CI): 1.46, 5.09], Internet service [AOR=3.51, (95% CI):1.55, 7.96] , prior mobile phone use for pulse rate monitoring [AOR=4.38, (95%CI): 1.99, 8.50] and for expected date of delivery calculation [AOR= 2.48, (95%CI): 2.13, 5.28] were statistically significant for respondents attitude to use mobile Health technology. Similarly Internet service [AOR= 3.92, (95%CI): 1.67, 9.19] prior mobile phone use for diagnosis [AOR= 2.84, (95%CI): 1.35, 5.95], pulse rate monitoring [AOR =2.68, (95% CI): 1.28, 5.59] and for EDD calculation [AOR =2.72, (95% CI): 1.23, 6.03] were statistically significant for health professional willingness to use mHealth technology. Conclusion and recommendation: Over three fourths of the health care professionals? had a favorable attitude and willingness to use mobile health technology. Therefore, access to the Internet service is important for mobile health technology. Key words: mHealth, attitude, willingness, factors and health professionals.