Using Mobile Technologies to Access Evidence-Based Resources: A Rural Health Clinic Experience

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Rural Health
• Clinical Decision Support

Background:

• Rural healthcare settings face unique challenges in accessing timely clinical information.
• Nurses often require immediate access to evidence-based information for effective patient care.
• Mobile technology offers potential solutions for information access in underserved areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and usability of mobile devices and electronic resources for clinical decision support in a rural clinic.
• To understand nurses' information-seeking behaviors, needs, and criteria for using evidence in patient care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving nurses in a rural health clinic.
• Exploration of nurses' perceptions regarding information needs and sources.
• Utilized ATLAS.ti software for qualitative data analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified specific scenarios where nurses require additional clinical information.
• Documented preferred information sources and comfort levels with found evidence.
• Revealed nurses' established rules and guidelines for integrating information into patient care.

Conclusions:

• Mobile devices and electronic programs show promise for supporting clinical decisions in rural nursing.
• Understanding nurses' information-seeking behaviors is crucial for designing effective support systems.
• Feasible implementation requires addressing usability and trust in electronic evidence.