Comparisons of Physicians' and Nurses' Attitudes towards Computers.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Integrated hospital information systems (HIS) require user acceptance for successful implementation.
• Understanding healthcare professionals' attitudes towards technology is crucial before system deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the attitudes of physicians and nurses towards computers before implementing integrated HIS.
• To identify factors influencing these attitudes within a Croatian hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous questionnaire survey administered to 194 randomly selected physicians and nurses.
• Questionnaire included demographic data, computer science education, computer usage, and Likert scale statements on computer attitudes.
• Statistical analysis using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney tests to compare attitude scores between groups.

Main Results:

• Both physicians (total score 130) and nurses (total score 123) demonstrated positive attitudes towards computers, with average responses leaning towards 'agree' or 'strongly agree'.
• Younger age, prior computer science education, and previous computer usage were significantly associated with more positive attitudes.
• Significant differences in attitudes were observed between physicians and nurses, influenced by demographic and experience factors.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare professionals in Croatia generally possess positive attitudes towards computers, essential for HIS adoption.
• Targeted training and highlighting the benefits of computer usage can further enhance acceptance among staff.
• These insights are vital for effective planning and implementation of integrated HIS in Croatian healthcare institutions.