Computer Literacy of Healthcare Professionals: Fact or Phantasy?
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Abstract
Background: The introduction of Electronic Health Records and other forms of technology in healthcare progresses in a fast pace. Often the concern is uttered whether the patient is able to cope with that, but how about the care provider?
Does the healthcare professional have adequate skills to make full use information- and communication technology (ICT) in healthcare?
Objective: To gain insights in the present and required level of computer literacy in healthcare. Another objective is to contribute to the development of an instrument to measure computer literacy in a simple way.
Methods: Before the introduction of an Electronic Health Record in a nursing home, a survey is held to measure the computer literacy of the nursing, paramedic and medical staff. The same questionnaire is used to measure the computer literacy of nursing staff after the introduction of a Nursing Information System in a general hospital.
The questionnaire comprised 18 items of terms, which should be marked by the respondent if he understands the meaning, and 14 keys and 23 skills, which should be marked if the respondent knew how to use or how to accomplish. 12 items were marked as essential to operate the EHR or NIS.
Results: All 609 employees working in patient care in the nursing home received a questionnaire; 439 (72,7 %) filled it out and sent the questionnaire in. Of the respondents 73,8 % did not mark all 12 essential keys and skills, 35,3% marked 6 items or less. Among all nurses who used the EPR, in the hospital, 195 questionnaires were distributed. Ninety-three (47,7 %) were filled out and returned. None of them marked 6 items or less; 24,7% did not mark all 12 essential keys and items.
Conclusions: The questionnaire in the nursing home revealed that computer literacy is low. Computer literacy in the hospital is higher; but still not at an adequate level for all nurses. Professional education should pay a lot of attention to technology and the skills to use it. Further research is conducted to investigate the relation between computer literacy and technology acceptance.
Does the healthcare professional have adequate skills to make full use information- and communication technology (ICT) in healthcare?
Objective: To gain insights in the present and required level of computer literacy in healthcare. Another objective is to contribute to the development of an instrument to measure computer literacy in a simple way.
Methods: Before the introduction of an Electronic Health Record in a nursing home, a survey is held to measure the computer literacy of the nursing, paramedic and medical staff. The same questionnaire is used to measure the computer literacy of nursing staff after the introduction of a Nursing Information System in a general hospital.
The questionnaire comprised 18 items of terms, which should be marked by the respondent if he understands the meaning, and 14 keys and 23 skills, which should be marked if the respondent knew how to use or how to accomplish. 12 items were marked as essential to operate the EHR or NIS.
Results: All 609 employees working in patient care in the nursing home received a questionnaire; 439 (72,7 %) filled it out and sent the questionnaire in. Of the respondents 73,8 % did not mark all 12 essential keys and skills, 35,3% marked 6 items or less. Among all nurses who used the EPR, in the hospital, 195 questionnaires were distributed. Ninety-three (47,7 %) were filled out and returned. None of them marked 6 items or less; 24,7% did not mark all 12 essential keys and items.
Conclusions: The questionnaire in the nursing home revealed that computer literacy is low. Computer literacy in the hospital is higher; but still not at an adequate level for all nurses. Professional education should pay a lot of attention to technology and the skills to use it. Further research is conducted to investigate the relation between computer literacy and technology acceptance.
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