E-Health as a Tool in Health: Prospects and Challenges in Nigeria

This study explores the prospects and challenges of E-Health in Nigeria, focusing on its impact on nursing. E-Health, a dynamic field combining medical informatics, public health, and technology, holds the potential to reshape healthcare delivery. The study covers various aspects of E-Health, including telemedicine, m-Health, Tele-care, e-Public health, e-Mental health, and tele-health. While electronic health records (EHR) emerge as a crucial tool for real-time updates, challenges such as patient identification, standardization, and privacy concerns hinder seamless integration. Examining the prospects, the study highlights E-Health's potential to overcome limitations like limited access, geographical barriers, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges, including limited electricity, low internet penetration, and user perceptions, are investigated. Exploring specific E-Health components like telemedicine, mHealth, big data, GIS, blockchain, IoT, AI, and machine learning, the study analyzes their contributions and challenges. Despite hurdles, E-Health offers benefits like rapid diagnostics, enhanced patient care, and efficient healthcare services. The study emphasizes the pivotal role of nursing in this transformative era, emphasizing the need for informatics-proficient nursing professionals. Integrating E-Health into nursing education and practice is crucial for aligning with global standards. The conclusion underscores E-Health's potential to redefine healthcare in Nigeria, presenting opportunities for improved patient care, streamlined processes, and enhanced nursing practices. Keywords: E-Health, Prospects, Challenges,