Evaluating the Effectiveness of Telehealth Services in Community Nursing Practice

Abstract

Telehealth, using digital platforms to provide remote healthcare, has the potential to address geographic and systemic barriers, especially in resource-constrained settings like Nepal. This quantitative study assessed the efficacy of telehealth in community-based nursing care in hospitals of Sudurpaschhim Province, Nepal. A purposive sample of 422 outpatients aged over 18 years was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, ensuring ethical approval, informed consent, and confidentiality. Responses were recorded via Kobo Toolbox and analyzed with SPSS using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression, with significance set at p < 0.05. Most respondents were male (64%), aged 30–39 years (40.5%), from rural areas (88.9%), and 73.9% had smartphone or internet access. Awareness of telehealth was low, with 58.5% never having heard of it and only 34.6% correctly identifying it as health services via phone or internet. Utilization was minimal, mainly for health advice (11.6%) and prescription refills (4.0%), while preventive and specialized care were rarely used. Acceptance was motivated by convenience, time, and cost savings, but limited by poor connectivity, privacy concerns, and preference for in-person care. The findings highlight the need for targeted education, awareness programs, improved digital infrastructure, and governance to enhance telehealth utilization and integration into healthcare delivery.