ABSTRACT
Introduction: Digital health tools hold promise in numerous countries, but their adoption among medical professionals in Nigeria appears to be less widespread.
Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the attitude and beliefs of healthcare providers towards mHealth technology adoption in clinical practice.
Methods: Simple random sampling was employed to select participants from each professional group (pharmacists, doctors, and nurses) in proportion to their representation in the population. 120 questionnaires were distributed to healthcare providers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (82) and Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Uselu (24). Out of these, 106 were both completed and retrieved.
Results: The majority of respondents were male, accounting for 58.5% of the study population. Doctors constituted the largest group with 39.6%, the most common years of practice were 1-3 years, accounting for 82.1%, and majority of respondents were associated with UBTH, representing 77.4%.Healthcare providers strongly believe mHealth technology can enhance patient care in Nigeria, with 47.2% strongly agreeing. Most respondents (84.9%) cited inadequate infrastructure to support mHealth technology, as a major barrier.
Conclusion: Healthcare providers exhibited a positive attitude toward mHealth technology adoption, holding optimistic beliefs about its benefits despite its perceived drawbacks in clinical practice. To facilitate mHealth adoption, comprehensive training programs should be provided to healthcare providers, addressing both the benefits and strategies for overcoming perceived barriers.
