Evaluation of Telemedicine Services in the Nigerian Air Force: Structure, Operations, and Utilization Patterns

Abstract

Telemedicine presents a promising opportunity to enhance healthcare delivery, particularly for military personnel who often face unique challenges in accessing in-person medical care. In the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), telemedicine services have been introduced in three pilot formations; however, uptake has remained below expectations. This study explored the factors influencing the utilization of these services within the pilot sites. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach was adopted, where quantitative data were collected first, followed by qualitative interviews to explain the study findings. The quantitative phase employed a descriptive cross-sectional design, with data gathered via a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The qualitative phase utilized a phenomenological design, conducting in-depth interviews with patients and healthcare providers. A thematic analysis framework guided qualitative data analysis. Participants were selected through multi-stage sampling. A total of 422 participants were surveyed, including 181 (42.9%) healthcare workers. While most respondents (85.8%) were aware of telemedicine services, only 17.5% of respondents had used the telemedicine platform, and 85.8% were not currently using it, revealing low active usage; among users, 40% reported their last consultation occurred over six months prior. The leading facilitator of uptake was the convenience and ease of access to care (33.3%). Facilitators include convenience and perceived gains in clinical efficiency. These findings can guide targeted awareness programs and capacity-building efforts to strengthen telemedicine adoption in military health systems.