Perceived Influence of Information and Communication Technology on Clinical Service Delivery among Caregivers and Patients in Makurdi Metropolis

Abstract

This study investigated the perceived influence of information and communication technology on clinical service delivery among caregivers and patients in Makurdi metropolis. The study employed a survey method where two hundred and thirty two (232) participants consisting of 144(62.2%) males and 88 (37.9%) females with ages ranging from 16-58 years participated in the study. A questionnaire consisting of two sections was used to collect data from the participants. Findings from the hypotheses indicated that, there was a negative correlation between ICT usage in clinical service delivery and disease diagnosis in Makurdi metropolis r (230df) =-.001, P >.05 one-tailed. There was a negative correlation between ICT usage in clinical service delivery and disease prognosis in Makurdi metropolis r (229df) = -.023, P > .05 one tailed. There was a negative correlation between ICT usage in clinical service delivery in reducing the severity of errors in disease diagnosis and prognosis in Makurdi metropolis r (229 df) = .042, P> .05 one-tailed. There was a negative correlation between ICT usage in clinical service delivery in improving the quality and speed of clinical service delivery in Makurdi metropolis r (229 df) = -.030, P> .05 one-tailed. These findings were discussed within the framework of ICT in Nigeria bearing in mind its influence on the general population. The study recommended that government and private practitioners should train their staff on ICT usage and not to lay them off. The study also recommended that more researches should be conducted in the study area for further identification of the long term solution of problems of ICT usage using larger sample sizes. On policy basis, it was therefore recommended that government should support the development of ICT in Nigerian hospitals with a separate remit and budget from the health ministry.

Keywords: Information and communication technology, clinical service delivery, caregiver, patients, Makurdi metropolis.