UTILIZATION OF DIGITAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN ENUGU EAST SENATORIAL ZONE OF ENUGU STATE: AN IMPLICATION FOR COUNSELLING

Abstract

This study was to determine the extent of utilization of digital health care system in Enugu East Senatorial zone of Enugu State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of 433 doctors, nurses and the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW) in the primary health care centers in Enugu East Senatorial District of Enugu State was involved in the study. The population was made up of 308 rural and 125 urban doctors, nurses and the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW) in the primary health care centers in Enugu East Senatorial District of Enugu State. No sampling was done because the population is manageable. A structured questionnaire named “Utilization of Digital Health Care System” (ADHCS), was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three research experts. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha Reliability Estimate: The overall reliability coefficient was .80. The questionnaire was administered and retrieved by the researcher with the help of six research assistants. Data collected with the questionnaire were analyzed using Mean (x̅) with Standard Deviation (SD) to answer the research questions, while, the null hypotheses were tested using t-test statistic at .05 level of significance. From the result of the findings, there was low extent of utilization of telehealth services in the primary health care system in Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Enugu State, while to a great extent, health information technology services was utilized in the primary health care system. Also it was found that there was no significant difference in the mean ratings of urban and rural primary health workers regarding the extent health information technology services and telehealth services were utilized in the primary health care system in Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Enugu State. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended among others that, Government / health authorities should ensure the provision of digital health facilities in the primary health care system in Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Enugu State, so as to boost health care activities and services in Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Enugu State.