Patient Empowerment and Nursing Clinical Workflows Enhanced by Integrated Bedside Terminals

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Technology
• Patient Experience
• Nursing Workflow Optimization

Background:

• Integrated bedside terminals (IBTs) were introduced to enhance patient independence and nursing efficiency.
• IBTs offer entertainment, convenience, and personal health information access.
• Limited empirical data exists on patient satisfaction and perceptions of IBTs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of IBTs on patient empowerment.
• To assess the influence of IBTs on nursing workflows.

Main Methods:

• Mixed methods design utilizing cross-sectional patient surveys and semi-structured nurse interviews.
• Patient surveys measured empowerment and satisfaction with IBT services.
• Nurse interviews gathered feedback on IBTs' effects on workflows.

Main Results:

• 113 patients and 11 nurses participated.
• IBTs improved patient experience and self-care management.
• Nurses reported enhanced patient comfort, entertainment, and nurse-patient relationships, but noted elderly patient reluctance.

Conclusions:

• IBT systems show potential for increasing patient empowerment and decreasing nursing demands.
• Integrating patient notes into IBTs may enhance patient involvement and empowerment.
• IBTs complement, but do not replace, the essential role of nurses in patient information delivery and trust-building.