AimCompare the use and trend of a telemedicine tool for clinical advice among nurses and other Cameroonian healthcare providers and explore its feasibility and accessibility.DesignA comparative observational descriptive study.MethodsThe sample includes all telemedicine users who request advice from volunteer medical specialists in Spain on clinical cases through the telemedicine tool “diagnosis assistance” (DA). It consisted of a total of 296 Cameroonian health professionals (59% women), of whom 77 were nurses. The variables in which the trend was explored (2013–2022) were DAs entered by nurses versus other healthcare professionals, compared by primary specialty, comments and documents attached. Feasibility and accessibility were explored through an anonymous survey.ResultsThere were 2527 DAs between 2013 and 2022, of which nurses introduced 68%. There is an increasing trend in the nurse/other healthcare providers ratio, with significant differences in the chi‐square of the linear trend between 2015 and 2022 (χ2 = 395.05; df = 7; p < .001). The probability that a DA was requested by nurses (PR >1) was observed in all years except for 2014, 2018 and 2019. The most tele‐counselling requested by nurses was in the specialties of internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and dermatology. The exchange of comments and attachments was mainly conducted among nurses (74.9% and 50.4%, respectively). The users surveyed considered the tool valuable for diagnosis, applicable, with limitations due to cost, Internet quality or lack of time and effective at reducing hospital referrals.ConclusionsTelemedicine for clinical advice has been used mostly and with increasing tendency by nurses, mainly in internal medicine, gynaecology and dermatology, being a useful and feasible resource that can contribute to improving clinical decision‐making by African nurses.ImpactThe study addressed the problem of the shortage of health professionals in Central Africa and the search for alternatives that facilitate decision‐making in this context. Tele‐counselling tools through digital platforms that put Spanish specialists in contact with health professionals in Central Africa are mostly used by nurses working in rural health centres with a growing trend in their use. The research allows us to determine that tele‐counselling tools constitute a well‐accepted resource, which has a positive impact in environments with a shortage of human health resources, favouring the safety of both the nursing professional, through support in decision‐making, and the populations to whom they provide care, who benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to their processes.Reporting MethodThe study has adhered to STROBE guidelines.Patient or Public ContributionNo Patient or Public Contribution.

中文翻译：

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远程医疗作为中部非洲护士的咨询工具


目的比较护士和其他喀麦隆医疗保健提供者之间用于临床建议的远程医疗工具的使用和趋势，并探讨其可行性和可及性。设计比较观察性描述性研究。方法样本包括向西班牙志愿医疗专家就临床病例寻求建议的所有远程医疗用户通过远程医疗工具“诊断协助”（DA）。该团队共有 296 名喀麦隆卫生专业人员（59% 为女性），其中 77 名是护士。探索趋势的变量（2013-2022）是护士与其他医疗保健专业人员输入的 DA，根据主要专业、评论和所附文件进行比较。通过匿名调查探讨可行性和可及性。结果2013年至2022年间共有2527个DA，其中68%是护士引入的。护士/其他医疗保健提供者的比例呈上升趋势，2015 年至 2022 年线性趋​​势的卡方存在显着差异（ χ 2 = 395.05； df = 7； p < .001)。除 2014 年、2018 年和 2019 年外，所有年份均观察到护士请求 DA 的概率（PR >1）。护士请求最多的远程咨询是内科、妇产科和皮肤科。评论和附件的交换主要在护士之间进行（分别为74.9%和50.4%）。接受调查的用户认为该工具对于诊断有价值、适用，但由于成本、互联网质量或缺乏时间而受到限制，并且可以有效减少医院转诊。结论 远程医疗临床建议已被护士广泛使用，且呈上升趋势，主要在内科、妇科和皮肤科，是一种有用且可行的资源，有助于改善非洲护士的临床决策。中部非洲卫生专业人员的短缺以及在这种情况下寻找促进决策的替代方案。通过数字平台使西班牙专家与中部非洲的卫生专业人员取得联系的远程咨询工具主要由在农村卫生中心工作的护士使用，而且使用趋势呈增长趋势。该研究使我们能够确定，远程咨询工具构成了一种广为接受的资源，它对人类健康资源短缺的环境产生积极影响，通过决策支持有利于护理专业人员的安全，以及他们提供护理的人群受益于多学科方法的处理。报告方法该研究遵循 STROBE 指南。患者或公众贡献没有患者或公众贡献。