Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Telemedicine in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in Primary Health Care in Cameroon: An Interventional Study.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tele-expertise (tele-ECG) in primary health care in Cameroon for the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases or risk factors. It is a controlled multicenter study carried out in Cameroon's two health facilities where tele-ECG has been implemented (intervention centers) and two other where telemedicine has been not implemented (control centers). Patients having cardiovascular risk factors or diseases received usual primary health care in the control centers. In contrast, they received usual primary health care and could perform an ECG associated with cardiologists' remote expertise (tele-ECG) in the intervention centers. The primary outcome was to evaluate the rate of patients' access to an ECG test and to cardiologist' expertise. Telemedicine is effective for the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases in primary health care. It could improve healthcare providers' clinical processes, clinical outcomes of patients and their satisfaction.