INVESTIGATION ON THE INTEGRATION AND UPTAKE OF VIRTUAL MEDICAL SERVICE IN NIGERIA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

1.1 Background of the Study Across developed nations, telemedicine has revolutionized patient engagement and clinical efficiency as diseases become increasingly complex and demand for real-time care rises, understanding the dynamics behind the integration and uptake of virtual medical services becomes both urgent and necessary. Virtual medical service, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is the provision of healthcare services where distance is a critical factor. This is achieved through the use of information and communication technologies by all healthcare professionals to exchange valid information for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, as well as for the research and evaluation of healthcare providers. The ultimate goal is to improve the health of individuals and their communities. The delivery of health care and the exchange of medical knowledge over a distance using telecommunication means are the definition of virtual medical service (Eriotis et al., 2018). Virtual medical service has existed for decades but became prevalent during the COVID-19 Pandemic around 2020-2021 (Adeoye and Olaogun, 2020). In 2021, 37.0% of adults used virtual medical service in the past 12 months, while 38.78% of USA adults are reported to have a telehealth visit in the previous year (J. Med, 2022). ). Developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have integrated virtual medical service into their healthcare systems, offering a range of services from virtual consultations to remote patient monitoring (Dorsey & Topol, 2020). These developing countries have proved the effectiveness of virtual medical service in the improvement of healthcare services. Nigeria as a country faces a lot of health care challenges ranging from; lack of infrastructure, to a lack in qualifies professionals, and limited access to healthcare services. The emergence of virtual medical service has become essential in addressing these challenges (Bashir and Bastola, 2018). Virtual medical service has the potential of addressing some of these challenges by increasing access to healthcare service, improving healthcare outcome, and reducing health care cost (Adeoye and Olaogun, 2020). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios globally, with less than four doctors per 10,000 people (WHO, 2020). The emergence of virtual medical service could not have come at a better time when Nigeria is grappling with severe healthcare challenges, it is therefore, necessary to shed light on integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. 1.2 Statement of the Study. There is a need for the improvement of healthcare delivery in Nigeria, to help increase the quality of live for its citizenry, Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million people, the country faces significant healthcare challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and unequal distribution of healthcare services across urban and rural areas (Adepoju, 2020). The role virtual medical service plays in improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria had been impeded by several barriers which include; poor internet connectivity, high costs of telecommunication services, lack of technical expertise among healthcare providers, and inadequate policy frameworks (Oluwafemi & Samuel, 2019).The integration and uptake of virtual medical service in Nigeria are limited by several factors, including technological, regulatory, and socio-cultural barriers (Adenekan et al, 2020). According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), over 100 million Nigerians are connected to the internet. The number of internet users on Nigeria's telecom networks has reached 97.21 million. With this statistic, there is still a gap in technological access for Nigerians, especially those in the rural areas, thus impeding the integration of virtual medical service in such areas. There is a need for a comprehensive evaluation to understand the factors influencing the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system (Adesina, 2017). This is why this study is essential. 1.3 Objective of the Study The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in Nigerian healthcare system. Other specific objectives include; i. Determine the extent virtual medical service is adopted in the healthcare system in Nigeria. ii. Assess the need for effective integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. iii. Evaluate the factors influencing the uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. iv. Proffer strategies required to improve the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. 1.4 Research Question. These research questions will be answered in this study; i. What extent is virtual medical service adopted in Nigerian healthcare system? ii. What are the need for effective integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system? iii. What are the factors influencing the uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. iv. What are the strategies required to improve the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. 1.5 Research Hypothesis These hypotheses will validate this study; H0: The extent virtual medical service is adopted in the Nigerian healthcare system is low. H1: The extent virtual medical service is adopted in the Nigerian healthcare system is high. 1.6 Significance of the Study. Significance of the study on evaluation of the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in Nigerian healthcare system would contribute to existing literatures on virtual medical service, it will also aid other researchers in there literature review. This study would expose policy makers and relevant stakeholders on the need for the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. This study would also proffer strategies required to improve the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. The result from this study will contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regards to the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian health care system. 1.7 Scope of the Study This study focuses on evaluating the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in Nigerian healthcare system. Empirically, the study would determine the extent virtual medical service is integration in the healthcare system in Nigeria, assess the need for effective integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system, evaluate the factors influencing the uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system, and proffer strategies required to improve the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in the Nigerian healthcare system. This study would be carried out in Nigeria. 1.8 Limitation of the Study. The study may not be carried out for an extensive period of time to evaluation of the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in Nigerian healthcare system. The sample size is also limited to Nigeria which may not reflect the overall role of the integration and uptake of virtual medical service in Nigerian healthcare system. The study relies of self-reported data, which is subject to biases, errors and inaccuracies. Definition of Terms Virtual medical service: refers to the delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities. Integration: The acceptance and integration of virtual medical service practices by healthcare providers and patients.