Currently submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jun 6, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Jun 8, 2026 - Aug 3, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Systematic Review of Healthcare Professionals’ and Patients’ Willingness to Use mHealth and Telemedicine in Resource-Limited Settings 2025
ABSTRACT
Background:
Mobile Health (mHealth) and telemedicine can improve access to healthcare services in rural Ethiopia through education, disease monitoring, and remote consultations. Adoption depends on factors such as digital literacy, trust, training, and infrastructure, while challenges include limited smartphones and connectivity.
Objective:
The aim of this review was to synthesis the evidence of willingness to use mHealth and telemedicine intervention among health professionals and patients.
Methods:
This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines to examine the willingness to use mHealth and telemedicine interventions and associated factors among healthcare professionals and patients in Ethiopia. A comprehensive search was carried from database such as MEDLINE, PubMed Central, CINAHL, and Africa-Wide Information using predefined searching strategies. Only full-text, peer-reviewed studies published in English were included. Two reviewers independently screened and selected studies, extracted data using a standardized form, and resolved disagreements through consensus. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists.
Results:
This review consisted of 13 studies, and indicates that patients and healthcare workers are strongly willing to use mHealth and telemedicine. The highest willingness was observed among patients with chronic conditions (59.1%–96%), and they preferred simple technologies to engage (voice calls/SMS). Healthcare professionals also indicated varying but substantial willingness to engage (46.5%–83%).
Conclusions:
Both patients and healthcare providers have a high degree of willingness. Younger age, higher education, urban life, smartphone ownership, digital literacy, and some degree of perceived utility and simplicity of use were significant factors determining willingness. A supporting role was also provided by additional behavioral, clinical, and environmental factors. Clinical Trial: Registration: This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42024629424.
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Copyright
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