Abstract

This study examined the effect of telemedicine adoption on healthcare service delivery in selected medical facilities in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The persistent challenges of limited access, long waiting times, and uneven distribution of medical personnel have constrained healthcare delivery in Nigeria, and telemedicine has emerged as a promising means of extending reach and improving efficiency. Guided by three objectives and three research questions, the study adopted a descriptive survey design. A sample of 220 respondents, comprising doctors, nurses, other health workers, and patients, was drawn from selected medical facilities in Uyo using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured, validated questionnaire titled the Telemedicine Adoption and Healthcare Service Delivery Questionnaire (TAHSDQ), which yielded a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.86. Data were analysed using frequency counts, simple percentages, and mean scores, presented in tables and charts. The findings revealed that telemedicine adoption significantly improved healthcare service delivery by widening access, reducing patient waiting time, and enhancing efficiency; that it improved patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes; and that erratic power supply, poor internet connectivity, and inadequate funding were the principal challenges to its effective adoption. The study concluded that telemedicine is an effective tool for strengthening healthcare service delivery in Uyo when supported by reliable infrastructure, adequate funding, and appropriate training. It recommended sustained investment in power and connectivity, capacity-building for health workers, and a supportive regulatory framework to institutionalise telemedicine in the health system