Abstract:

Modern healthcare has increasingly relied on telemedicine and virtual software platforms, especially during the onset of COVID-19. This systematic review explores the perspectives and experiences of using voice and video-based telemedicine consultation services for outpatient care in Sub-Saharan Africa. Several key factors influence telemedicine adoption by patients and medical practitioners. This review compiles findings from numerous studies to explain the organisational, technological, and social elements that play a role in this process. The study utilised a comprehensive search strategy across multiple online databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Keywords such as "telemedicine," "telehealth," "virtual software platforms," "digital health," and "e-health" were employed to retrieve relevant literature. After thorough screening and evaluation, 148 articles were initially identified, with 18 meeting the inclusion criteria. Healthcare accessibility is significantly enhanced through telemedicine, especially benefiting remote and underserved regions. Findings demonstrate that telemedicine is critical in bridging the healthcare gap for these communities. Adopting telemedicine facilitates timely diagnosis, treatment initiation, and continuous patient monitoring while reducing the strain on healthcare facilities. However, barriers such as inadequate funding, insufficient training, integration challenges, and data privacy concerns hinder widespread adoption. To address existing challenges, this review emphasizes the transformative potential of telemedicine in advancing healthcare delivery. It underlines the necessity for robust I.T. infrastructure, regulatory support, and comprehensive training programs. Future research should focus on examining long-term impacts, demographic influences, and strategies for integrating telemedicine into standard healthcare practices. Improving outpatient care and overall healthcare performance, especially in developing regions, can be achieved through telemedicine's scalable, effective, and sustainable solutions.

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