The feasibility of telemedicine based consultation in the primary healthcare sector in Johannesburg
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
Healthcare system in South Africa is overburdened and telemedicine is considered a useful tool to make quality healthcare more accessible. In South Africa, regulations imposed by Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and restricted access to technological, educational, economic and sociocultural factors has limited the ease of accessing and using telemedicine. In order for telemedicine to gain prominence, it needs to be integrated into everyday practice and be
seen as an alternative to face-to-face consultation. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate a combination of factors, in the context of Covid-19 pandemic, namely telemedicine as an engaging platform, seeking written or verbal informed consent for clinical procedures and using information and communication technology (ICT) and availability and knowledge of electronic resources to conduct virtual consultation. In addition, the method used to store patient information was examined to understand the prominence it has in the context of telemedicine.
A quantitative, cross-sectional research strategy was used to collect data from 80 family physicians practicing in either private, state or both sectors. This study reported that a large number of participants have used some form of telemedicine, although only one third use it daily. On average the study population reported to agree that telemedicine is an engaging platform, but half the respondents found that the explanation concerning the disease or treatment is not better.
Verbal consent is used more than written consent for activities relating to clinical examination or when using ICT. While, majority of the respondents indicated that they do have an electronic device to implement telemedicine consultation, only half the respondents had access to quality broadband network. The study also reported that about two-thirds of the respondents reported to stored patient information manually.
Overall, more attention is required to make the functionality of telemedicine more noticeable. Telemedicine may not be valued so much when there is good health infrastructure, however, when health infrastructure is poor, telemedicine is unable to stand on its own. Hence, associated economic, education and socio cultural factors needs to be evaluated further so that behavioural barriers are reduced and telemedicine is used more frequently
Description
A Research report presented in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Business Administration to the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2021
Keywords
Healthcare system, South Africa, Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Technological, educational, economic and sociocultural factors, Information and communication technology (ICT), UCTD
Citation
Mistry, Karishma Jivan. (2021). The feasibility of telemedicine based consultation in the primary healthcare sector in Johannesburg [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace.