Factors Influencing Utilization of Telehealth Technologies among Hypertensive Patients: Focus on Technological Literacy at Nyeri County Referral Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Hypertension remains a major public health challenge in Kenya, particularly among populations in rural and underserved regions where access to continuous healthcare services is limited. Telehealth technologies have increasingly been adopted to improve chronic disease management through remote consultations, health monitoring, and patient education. However, the successful utilization of these technologies largely depends on patients’ technological literacy. This study assessed the influence of technological literacy on the utilization of telehealth technologies among hypertensive patients attending the Chronic Care Clinic at Nyeri County Referral Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from 372 hypertensive patients using structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analysed using SPSS version 26. The findings revealed that technological literacy significantly influenced telehealth utilization among hypertensive patients. Most respondents reported low levels of digital competence, including limited ability to use mobile health applications, difficulty understanding instructions on telehealth platforms, and inadequate confidence in independently operating telehealth systems. Only 38.7% of respondents indicated that they had basic knowledge of using mobile health applications, while 41.4% disagreed. Similarly, only 30.1% reported having received adequate training to use telehealth technologies effectively. The overall mean scores ranging from 2.56 to 2.96 demonstrated low technological literacy levels among the patients. The study concluded that inadequate technological literacy remains a major barrier to effective telehealth adoption and utilization among hypertensive patients in Nyeri County. The study recommends that healthcare institutions and policymakers strengthen digital health literacy programs, provide regular patient training, simplify telehealth interfaces, and establish continuous technical support systems to improve telehealth adoption among chronic disease patients.