Mobile Technology for Health, Its Practicability and Cost Effectiveness in Improving Health Service Delivery in Nigeria: A Study of Potiskum Local Government

Abstract

Mobile technology for Health, Its Practicability and Cost Effectiveness in Improving Health Service Delivery in Nigeria: A case study of Potiskum Local Government. This study was guided by the following research objectives: i) to establish the practical use of mobile technology in the health sector of Potiskum Local Government; ii) to examine the effectiveness of mobile technology in improving health service delivery in Potiskum Local Government; iii) to identify barriers to mobile technology implementation in the health sector of Potiskum Local Government and iv) to determine the relationship between mobile technology and service delivery in the health sector of Potiskum Local Government, Nigeria. The study employed cross-sectional survey design and data was collected using both open and closed ended questionnaires from a sample size of 377 respondents comprising of the patients, health workers and health system managers.The study established that the practical use of mhealth in the Health Sector of Potiskum Local Government included among others healthcare telephone helpline, emergency toll free telephone services and mobile phone technology for recording patient information. The study also revealed that mhealth is an efficient platform in improving healthcare service delivery. However, its potential is not yet fully explored in Potiskum Local Government. There were also a number of barriers such as operational cost, lack of knowledge and policies that hindered the smooth implementation of mhealth technology. Furthermore, the study indicated a significant correlation between mhealth technology and service delivery in Potiskum Local Government (r=0.985, r<0.000).The study concluded that there is a growing body of evidence for what works within mHealth and where the underlying barriers to and gaps in scale and sustainability are at present. Ultimately, mobile healthcare services and devices are only effective if adopted by healthcare professionals and patients. The study recommended that Healthcare solution providers must therefore focus on developing products and services that are easy to use, without additional layers of complexity. Healthcare professionals must see clear and immediate benefits from any new device before adding it to an already bulging doctor or nurse’s bag