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Review
. 2020 Nov 18;1(1):8-15.
doi: 10.1089/tmr.2020.0002. eCollection 2020.

Barriers to Sustainable Telemedicine Implementation in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

Getu Gamo Sagaro  1 , Gopi Battineni  1 , Francesco Amenta  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Barriers to Sustainable Telemedicine Implementation in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

Getu Gamo Sagaro et al. Telemed Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Different studies showed that the use of telemedicine is effective in reducing hospital burden, suffering from patients, need of transports, hospital fear, save money and time, and increasing the quality of health care. However, the implementation of telemedicine countenances different challenges in developing countries generally and in Ethiopia, particularly. This review aims to evaluate barriers affecting sustainable telemedicine implementation in Ethiopia. Methods: PubMed (Medline), Google Scholar, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched between July 4, 2020 and July 28, 2020. Studies published between 2005 and June 30, 2020 were considered. Relevant articles were selected by reviewing keywords, titles, and abstracts. Out of 40 articles, 33 articles remained after removing duplicates. We finally analyzed 14 articles from the mentioned databases based on our eligibility criteria and identified different barriers. We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRSIMA 2009) checklist for this review. Results: We identified 25 barriers through 14 articles and classified barriers into organizational, users, and staff and programmers' barriers. Accordingly, organizational, users, and staff and programmer barriers were 12 (48%), 7 (28%), and 6 (24%), respectively, with the frequency of occurrence through 14 articles. Cost, awareness, and resistance to change were the most frequently reported barriers among organizational, user, and staff and programmer barriers, respectively. Conclusions: Infrastructure and costs were the most frequently reported barriers, and staff resistance to change was also the critical factor in influencing the sustainable implementation of telemedicine in Ethiopia.

Keywords: barriers; e-health; m-health; telehealth; telemedicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
PRISMA flow chart of literature showing the search process, the reasons for exclusion of studies, and the final number of articles included in the review.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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