Bedside nurses' perceptions of intensive care unit telemedicine

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) telemedicine offers critical care services across wide areas.
• Provider acceptance is crucial for the success of ICU telemedicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess critical care nurses' attitudes and perceptions regarding telemedicine in critical care settings.
• Understanding nurse perspectives is key to implementing telemedicine effectively.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 179 nurses in 3 ICU units at 2 academic hospitals utilizing telemedicine.
• Internet-based survey focused on practice and perceptions of telemedicine use.

Main Results:

• 52% response rate (93 nurses); 72 had night shift experience with telemedicine.
• 44% incorporated telemedicine suggestions; 72% believed it improved patient survival.
• Concerns included workflow interruption (9%), intrusiveness (11%), and privacy (13%).

Conclusions:

• Experienced bedside nurses generally support ICU telemedicine.
• Privacy concerns and the importance of knowing the telemedicine physician may impede wider adoption.
• Addressing these issues is vital for successful telemedicine integration.