A Review on Barriers to Sustainable Telemedicine Implementation in Ethiopia

Abstract Background Different studies showed that the use of telemedicine is effective in reducing hospital burden, suffer from patients, need of transports, hospital fear, save the money and time, and increasing the quality of healthcare. However, the implementation of telemedicine countenances different challenges in developing countries generally and in Ethiopia, particular.Objective This review aims to evaluate barriers which affecting sustainable telemedicine implementation in Ethiopia through analyses of the published works since 2010.Methods We conducted this review by extracting data from different databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed Central, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Academic Search Ultimate, and Africa-Wide Information. We analyzed finally 12 articles from the above databases based on our eligibility criteria and identified different barriers found in studies. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRSIMA 2009) checklist for this review.Results We identified 23 barriers through 11 articles and classified barriers into organizational, users, and staff and programmers’ barriers. Accordingly, organizational, users’, and staff and programmer barriers were 11 (48%), 7 (30%) and 5 (22%), respectively with the frequency of occurrence through 11 articles and the results organized into table and figureConclusions Infrastructure and cost were the most frequently reported barriers, and staff resistance to change was also the critical factor. Inadequate availability Infrastructure and resistance to change could be overcome through training, creating awareness, strengthening Medicare reimbursement regulations and health care insurance programs, allocating budget for new technology and purchase, strong support and follow up, change management techniques.