Nursing Staff Practices Towards Computerization and Computer Use in a Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi Kenya
Abstract
The use and dependence on information technology have recently become increasingly widespread in healthcare and nursing care delivery. The purpose of this study was to assess practices among nursing staff in relation to computerisation and computer use in a tertiary referral hospital. This was a cross-sectional study comprising qualified nurses from all departments. A sample size of 291(100%) nurses participated in the study. Data were collected using questionnaires. Data were analysed using a statistical package for social sciences software version 22. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The majority of the respondent’s age were in the category 40-49 years 112(38.5%); senior nursing officers were 132(45.4%); majority participants used computers for ordering supplies 160(55%), nursing notes 41(14.1%), billing 64(22%) and communication 26(8.9%). Two hundred and fifty-nine (89%) had the ability to type using the computer keyboard, while 32(11%) had difficulties. Use of a computer mouse, typing on the keyboard, use of a word processor, having an email, ability to prepare power-point presentations, and formal training were statistically significant (p-value <0.0001). Regarding communication, 50(17.2%) used electronic mails while 241(82.8%) did not. Evidently, nurses’ practices on computerisation and computer use have an important bearing on the uptake and utilisation of computer systems in the workplace
Downloads
References
Bertulis, R. (2008). Barriers to accessing evidence-based information. Nursing Standard, 22(36), 35-39.
Chan, M. F. (2006). Investigating nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills patterns towards clinical management system: Results of a cluster analysis. Medical Informatics and the Internet in Medicine, 31(3), 161-174.
Da’ve, D. I. V. A. N. (2004). Benefits and barriers to EMR implementation. Caring: National Association for Home Care magazine, 23(11), 50-51.
Department of Health. Information for Health (DOH). (1998). A National Strategy for the Modern National Health Service (NHS) 1998 – 2005. Department of Health, London.
Dumas, J. A., Dietz, E. O., & Connolly, P. M. (2001). Nurse practitioner use of computer technologies in practice. Computers in Nursing, 19(1), 34-40.
Edward, M. I., Iwaola, O. M., Adumaza, F. B., & Fayose, O. E. (2020). Factors Affecting Implementation of Computer-Based Clinical Documentation Among Nurses in Selected Hospitals, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. British Journal of Computer, Networking and Information Technology (BJCNIT), 3(1).
Goorman, E., & Berg, M. (2000). Modelling nursing activities: electronic patient records and their discontents. Nursing inquiry, 7(1), 3-9.Hebda T. & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals. Pearson Higher Ed.
Hegney, D., Buikstra, E., Eley, R., Fallou, T., Gilmore, V. & Soar J. (20017). Nurses and Information Technology. An Australian Nursing Federation project funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Commonwealth of Australia
Ibrahim, S., Donelle, L., Sidani, S., & Regan, S. (2019). Factors influencing Registered Nurses’ intention to use Health Information Technology in clinical practice: An integrative literature review (2023). Can J Nurs Inform 2019; 14(1-2).
Kipturgo, M. K., Kivuti-Bitok, L. W., Karani, A. K., & Muiva, M. M. (2014). Attitudes of nursing staff towards computerisation: a case of two hospitals in Nairobi, Kenya. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 14, 1-8.
Kivuti, L., & Chepchirchir, A. (2011). Computerisation readiness. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 15(1).
Kivuti-Bitok, L. W. (2009). What do nurse managers want computerised? Needs based assessment study of middle and functional level nurse managers at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries, 3(2).
Lee, T. T. (2005). Nurses’ concerns about using information systems: analysis of comments on a computerised nursing care plan system in Taiwan. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14(3), 344-353.
Lium, J. T., Lærum, H., Schulz, T., & Faxvaag, A. (2006). From the front line, report from a near paperless hospital: mixed reception among health care professionals. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 13(6), 668-675.
McCannon, M., & O’Neal, P. V. (2003). Results of a national survey indicating information technology skills needed by nurses at time of entry into the work force. Journal of Nursing Education, 42(8), 337-340.
Nkosi, Z. Z., Asah, F., & Pillay, P. (2011). Post‐basic nursing students’ access to and attitudes toward the use of information technology in practice: a descriptive analysis. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(7), 876-882.
Palabindala, V., Pamarthy, A., & Jonnalagadda, N. R. (2016). Adoption of electronic health records and barriers. Journal of community hospital internal medicine perspectives, 6(5), 32643.
Samoutis, G., Soteriades, E. S., Kounalakis, D. K., Zachariadou, T., Philalithis, A., & Lionis, C. (2007). Implementation of an electronic medical record system in previously computer-naïve primary care centres: a pilot study from Cyprus. Informatics in primary care, 15(4), 207-216.
Singh, B., & Senthil, J. (2015). Use of information technology by nurses in private hospitals in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(4), 658.
Copyright (c) 2023 Christine Mwikali Musee, Peter Kiteywo Sisimwo, Judith Mutindi Mweu, Philemona Maina, Philemona Maina, Rosemary Mutua, Grace Omulogoli
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
