Knowledge and Practice of Telenursing among Nurses in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to study the knowledge, perception and practice of Telenursing among Nurses in Plateau State, Nigeria. It aims at the need for good policy in health care delivery and implementation of Telenursing to reduce to a greater extend the consequences associated with inadequate health care distribution. A cross sectional study involving Nurses in Plateau State, Nigeria was carried out with information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of telenursing, perception towards telenursing and team work, willingness and attitude of Nurses to use telenursing and challenges affecting the implementation of telenursing in Plateau state were collected, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical and chi-square test. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. 270 Nurses participated in the study. Majority 148 (54.8%) had not heard about telenursing though 117 (43.3%) have heard. 90.7% participants have never been engaged in telenursing, 84.4% stated inadequate resources affected telenursing practice. Majority (84.8%), 52.3% indicated interest for telenursing to be used and for improved communication and collaboration respectively between Nurses and other disciplines. Majority 66.5% agreed that telenursing is easy to use. Only 31.1% felt that telenursing may not bring any extra value to existing nursing practice when implemented. Lack of knowledge (47.4%), funding (80%), policy (15.2%), Poverty (13.3%), time/interest/will/attitude of nurses (2.6%), Shortage/lack of manpower/workload (4.8%), and Inadequate power supply (11.1), were pointed out by the participants as challenges that can affect the implementation of telenursing.