Submission ID 117116
| Issue/Objective | Background: In recent years in Cameroon, the mobile telecommunication landscape has witnessed substantial improvements, resulting in the building blocks being laid for necessary enabling infrastructure for digital transformation of the country. Coinciding with an ever growing communication infrastructure is the development by government of an ambitious national digital health strategic plan that envisages a major role for digital health technologies (DHTs) as part of the effort to address the country's health challenges. Objective: We aim in this work to assess the attitudes of hospital workers' in Fako Division of Cameroon towards DHTs at this early stage of the implementation of DHTs in the country's hospitals. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among staff of seven hospitals in Fako Division of Cameroon. We evaluate respondents' answers to the question "Could you imagine supplementing your healthcare with technology" based on: socio-demographic factors; employment-related factors; exposure to, and use of digital technology; and knowledge of, and opinion about eHealth. |
| Results | Preliminary results: 331 clinical and non-clinical hospital workers from seven hospitals that reflect the mix of hospital types in Cameroon responded to the questionnaire. 75.3% of respondents expressed a favourable view to supplementing their healthcare with technology, 21.1% expressed a negative view, and 3.6% did not expressed any view. Results from the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that there were no significant differences based on age, highest education level, job description, sex, and work experience. However, there was significant difference based on the degree of respondents' support or opposition to the use of technology in healthcare |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Conclusion: In spite of its novelty, staff of health facilities in Fako Division of Cameroon have a largely positive view of DHTs irrespective of their socio-demographic groupings. This study was funded by International Development Research Centre (Grant Number: 109-981-001). |
| Presenters and affiliations | Denis Nkweteyim University of Buea Madeleine Nyamsi University of Buea Christian Tchapga University of Buea Peter Achankeng University of Buea Justin Ayuk University of Buea Delphine Tabo University of Buea Elvis Asanbeng Tanue University of Buea Ginyu Innocentia Kwalar University of Buea Kibu Odette Dzemo University of Buea Moise Ondua University of Ngaoundere Patrick Jolly Ngono Ema University of Ngaoundere Maurice Marcel Sandeu University of Ngaoundere Kambang Epie Clifford University of Buea Lobga Dobga Fomboh Julius University of Buea Jude Dzevela Kong University of Toronto Gregory Edie Halle-Ekane University of Buea Dickson Shey Nsagha University of Buea |
