Factors affecting nurses' attitudes toward computers in healthcare

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatics
• Nursing Technology
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• The integration of computer technology into healthcare settings is rapidly increasing.
• Understanding nurses' attitudes towards these technologies is crucial for successful implementation and adoption.
• Previous research indicates varied factors influencing healthcare professionals' technological acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors influencing nurses' attitudes towards computers in healthcare.
• To explore demographic and professional variables associated with computer attitudes among nurses.
• To provide insights for optimizing computer training and system development in Turkish hospitals.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 890 nurses from state and university hospitals in Turkey.
• Purposive sampling method used for participant selection.
• Data collection via demographic questionnaires and the Pretest for Attitudes Toward Computers in Healthcare Assessment Scale v.2.

Main Results:

• Nurses exhibited generally positive attitudes toward computers in healthcare.
• Significant differences in attitudes were observed across age, marital status, education, facility type, and job title.
• Computer-specific factors, including computer science education, experience, duration, and place of use, strongly correlated with attitudes (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Nurses' attitudes toward computers are influenced by a combination of demographic, professional, and computer-related factors.
• The findings underscore the need for tailored computer training programs for nurses in Turkey.
• Improving nurses' computer literacy and experience is essential for enhancing participation in hospital information system development and computerized patient care planning.