ASSESSING AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF TELEMEDICINE AMONG ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC STAFF AT BAZE UNIVERSITY, ABUJA

ABSTRACT The integration of telemedicine has revolutionized healthcare delivery, especially in enhancing accessibility and efficiency. This study assessed the awareness and utilization of telemedicine and utilization of telemedicine among academic and non-academic staff at Baze University, Abuja. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 196 staff members, with a majority being non-academic and within the 41-50 age group. Data was collected using mixed questionnaires constituting both structured and unstructured questions. The study examined key variables, including demographic characteristics, awareness levels, and perceived barriers to telemedicine utilization. By identifying gaps in knowledge and adoption, the findings provided actionable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers, fostering improved telemedicine strategies in academic institutions. Ultimately, this research contributed to the growing discourse on telemedicine’s role in bridging healthcare access gaps and promoting digital health in Nigeria. The findings from the study revealed a higher awareness level and in turn utilization level among the academic staff compared to the non academic staff due to greater access to professional training while the non academic staff were faced with financial and digital literacy challenges that affected the adoption of telemedicine services, including lack of awareness, poor internet connectivity, high cost of telemedicine services and many more. The most commonly used service was online consultations, accessed mostly via smartphones. Key enablers of telemedicine use included free or subsidized services. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to enhance telemedicine awareness and utilization.