UTILIZATION OF TELEMEDICINE PLATFORMS FOR PATIENT’S MANAGEMENT BY MEDICAL DOCTORS IN ZARIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Telemedicine has become an important tool for improving patient management,
particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. However, despite increasing
global adoption, there is limited empirical evidence on the specific telemedicine-supporting
platforms utilized by medical doctors and the extent of their familiarity with these platforms at the
local government level. This gap is more pronounced in semi-urban settings like Zaria Local
Government Area, Kaduna State, where digital health integration remains underexplored.
Aim: The study aimed to identify the telemedicine-supporting platforms utilized by medical doctors
for patient management and to examine the extent of their conversance with these platforms in
Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was adopted for the study.
The population comprised fifty (50) medical doctors drawn from selected primary, secondary, and
tertiary healthcare facilities in Zaria Local Government Area. A census sampling technique was
used, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The instrument was validated, and
a reliability coefficient of 0.979 was obtained. Ethical approval was secured from the Kaduna
State Ministry of Health and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.
Findings: The findings revealed that WhatsApp is the most widely used platform for telemedicine
consultations, largely due to its accessibility and ease of use. Medical doctors demonstrated high
awareness and usage of basic platforms such as WhatsApp and electronic prescription
applications. However, awareness and utilization of specialized telemedicine platforms, including
Teledoc, Doxy.me, and Amwell, were notably low. This indicates a reliance on informal digital
tools rather than dedicated telemedicine systems for patient management.
Implications: The study was limited to a relatively small sample size and confined to one local
government area, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Nonetheless, the results
provide important insights into the current state of telemedicine practice and highlight the need
for improved integration of advanced telemedicine platforms in routine healthcare delivery, Conclusion and Recommendations: The study concludes that while medical doctors in Zaria Local
Government Area actively utilize basic digital platforms for telemedicine, the adoption of
specialized telemedicine tools remains limited. It is therefore recommended that healthcare
institutions standardize and promote the use of appropriate telemedicine platforms and implement
continuous capacity-building programs to enhance medical doctors’ proficiency in advanced
telemedicine technologies for effective patient management.