PhD defence Iván Chérrez-Ojeda

Keywords: Information and communication technologies, Telemedicine, Application

"Information and communication technologies: New challenges for patients and health care providers"

This thesis provides a comprehensive evaluation of the use, preferences, and perceptions of information and communication technologies among patients with chronic diseases and healthcare professionals in Latin America. 

Through a multidisciplinary and multicentric approach, it shows how ICTs are underutilized within healthcare settings across chronic conditions and professional roles. The findings reveal that despite high interest and perceived usefulness, barriers like limited digital literacy, privacy concerns, and uneven access persist, particularly among older adults and under-resourced populations.

 Bridging this digital divide requires coordinated efforts: empowering patients through education and accessibility; equipping healthcare professionals with digital competencies; and developing policies that institutionalize e-health practices within healthcare systems.

 When implemented equitably, ICTs can restructure chronic disease management into a more inclusive, efficient, and patient-centered paradigm. In Ecuador and Latin America, these technologies can catalyze transformation toward healthcare systems that are more responsive to population needs, better integrated across care levels, and more capable of addressing chronic diseases in the digital age.

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