Nurses' Role in Implementing and Sustaining Acute Telemedicine: A Mixed-Methods, Pre-Post Design Using an Extended...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare technology
• Clinical informatics
• Telemedicine adoption

Background:

• Technology-based systems, such as telemedicine, are increasingly integrated into healthcare.
• Understanding factors influencing the adoption of acute telemedicine is limited.
• Little is known about how these factors change over time or differ between nurses and non-nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing the uptake of acute stroke telemedicine.
• To examine temporal changes in these factors.
• To compare influencing factors between nurses and non-nurses.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods, pre-post study design was employed.
• Surveys based on an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) were administered to clinicians.
• Qualitative data from open-ended questions and nurse interviews provided explanatory detail.

Main Results:

• Pre-implementation, perceived usefulness predicted intent for nurses, while perceived ease of use and social influence predicted intent for non-nurses.
• Post-implementation, perceived usefulness was significant for both groups; facilitating conditions were significant for nurses.
• Qualitative data illustrated perceived usefulness, ease of use, facilitating conditions, and social influence.

Conclusions:

• Key factors for acute stroke telemedicine adoption vary between nurses and non-nurses and evolve post-implementation.
• Emphasizing telemedicine benefits to nurses is important.
• Support is needed for clinical, technical, and interpersonal aspects of telemedicine consultations.