Kissi Jonathan, Kruh Vivian, Adzakpah Godwin, Annobil Caleb, Quansah Daniel Kwame Kwansah, Appiah Sarkodie Yaw, Adwubi Veronica, Owusuwa Kerzia Jacobell, Opare Daniel, Owusu-Marfo Joseph
Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Nordland, Norway.
Health Serv Insights. 2025 Aug 3;18:11786329251361611. doi: 10.1177/11786329251361611. eCollection 2025.
Telehealth is revolutionizing healthcare, particularly in post-operative care accessibility. However, technological limitations, costs, and communication barriers hinder its full implementation. This study examines healthcare providers' and patients' perception on telehealth services adoption for post-operative follow-ups at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana.
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data involving 350 participants, (doctors (29), nurses (96), and patients (225)) at KBTH's surgical department using the priori power calculation method. Participants were selected via purposive and convenience sampling. There was a pilot-tested electronic and paper questionnaire administered by trained research assistants. The instrument captured multidimensional perception indices (eg, clinical efficacy, convenience, economic burden) on validated Likert scales alongside socio-demographic and telehealth utilization covariates. Data were managed in REDCap with mandatory fields to minimize missing responses and anonymized identifiers to reduce bias. Analyses comprised descriptive statistics and proportions in IBM SPSS v26 and R v4.2.1.
A substantial 76.6% of stakeholders agree or strongly agree that telehealth reliably monitors minor postoperative conditions. Convenience and efficiency are paramount, with 82.9% of participants finding virtual follow-ups more convenient and 86.6% reporting significant time savings relative to in-person visits. Infection-control benefits are widely recognized (85.2%), and patient-provider rapport remains strong, with only 10.9% expressing discomfort. Major barriers include unstable broadband (83.4%), limited on-site technical support (66.0%), poor audiovisual quality (81.7%), and prohibitive data/device costs (61.4%). Key facilitators encompass robust security measures trusted by 73.8% of users, regulatory confidence (59.7%), perceived clinical equivalence (76.5%), and enhanced access for underserved populations (82.6%).
Telehealth improves accessibility and efficiency in minor post-operative care. However, addressing technological barriers, insurance issues, and communication challenges is crucial. A hybrid approach integrating telehealth with in-person visits is recommended to enhance care quality and patient satisfaction.
远程医疗正在彻底改变医疗保健模式，尤其是在术后护理的可及性方面。然而，技术限制、成本和沟通障碍阻碍了其全面实施。本研究调查了加纳科勒布教学医院（KBTH）的医疗服务提供者和患者对采用远程医疗服务进行术后随访的看法。
采用描述性横断面研究设计，使用先验功效计算方法收集来自KBTH外科部门350名参与者（医生（29名）、护士（96名）和患者（225名））的数据。参与者通过立意抽样和便利抽样选取。由经过培训的研究助理发放经过预测试的电子和纸质问卷。该工具在经过验证的李克特量表上获取了多维度的认知指标（如临床疗效、便利性、经济负担）以及社会人口统计学和远程医疗使用协变量。数据在REDCap中进行管理，设置必填字段以尽量减少缺失回答，并使用匿名标识符以减少偏差。分析包括在IBM SPSS v26和R v4.2.1中进行描述性统计和比例分析。
高达76.6%的利益相关者同意或强烈同意远程医疗能够可靠地监测轻微术后状况。便利性和效率至关重要，82.9%的参与者认为虚拟随访更方便，86.6%的参与者表示与亲自就诊相比节省了大量时间。感染控制方面的益处得到广泛认可（85.2%），医患关系依然牢固，只有10.9%的人表示感到不适。主要障碍包括宽带不稳定（83.4%）、现场技术支持有限（66.0%）、视听质量差（81.7%）以及数据/设备成本过高（61.4%）。关键促进因素包括73.8%的用户信任的强大安全措施、监管信心（59.7%）、感知到临床等效性（76.5%）以及改善了服务不足人群的可及性（82.6%）。
远程医疗提高了轻微术后护理的可及性和效率。然而，解决技术障碍、保险问题和沟通挑战至关重要。建议采用将远程医疗与亲自就诊相结合的混合方法，以提高护理质量和患者满意度。
