Telemedicine as a counselling tool for nurses in Central Africa

J Adv Nurs. 2024 Aug 18. doi: 10.1111/jan.16406. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Compare the use and trend of a telemedicine tool for clinical advice among nurses and other Cameroonian healthcare providers and explore its feasibility and accessibility.

DESIGN: A comparative observational descriptive study.

METHODS: The sample includes all telemedicine users who request advice from volunteer medical specialists in Spain on clinical cases through the telemedicine tool "diagnosis assistance" (DA). It consisted of a total of 296 Cameroonian health professionals (59% women), of whom 77 were nurses. The variables in which the trend was explored (2013-2022) were DAs entered by nurses versus other healthcare professionals, compared by primary specialty, comments and documents attached. Feasibility and accessibility were explored through an anonymous survey.

RESULTS: There were 2527 DAs between 2013 and 2022, of which nurses introduced 68%. There is an increasing trend in the nurse/other healthcare providers ratio, with significant differences in the chi-square of the linear trend between 2015 and 2022 (χ² = 395.05; df = 7; p < .001). The probability that a DA was requested by nurses (PR >1) was observed in all years except for 2014, 2018 and 2019. The most tele-counselling requested by nurses was in the specialties of internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and dermatology. The exchange of comments and attachments was mainly conducted among nurses (74.9% and 50.4%, respectively). The users surveyed considered the tool valuable for diagnosis, applicable, with limitations due to cost, Internet quality or lack of time and effective at reducing hospital referrals.

CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine for clinical advice has been used mostly and with increasing tendency by nurses, mainly in internal medicine, gynaecology and dermatology, being a useful and feasible resource that can contribute to improving clinical decision-making by African nurses.

IMPACT: The study addressed the problem of the shortage of health professionals in Central Africa and the search for alternatives that facilitate decision-making in this context. Tele-counselling tools through digital platforms that put Spanish specialists in contact with health professionals in Central Africa are mostly used by nurses working in rural health centres with a growing trend in their use. The research allows us to determine that tele-counselling tools constitute a well-accepted resource, which has a positive impact in environments with a shortage of human health resources, favouring the safety of both the nursing professional, through support in decision-making, and the populations to whom they provide care, who benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to their processes.

REPORTING METHOD: The study has adhered to STROBE guidelines.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.

PMID:39154349 | DOI:10.1111/jan.16406