Clinical Nurses' Intention to Use Defibrillators in South Korea: A Path Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Technology Acceptance Models

Background:

• In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) necessitates prompt defibrillator use by clinical nurses.
• Understanding factors influencing nurses' defibrillator use intention is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Existing models may not fully capture the nuances of spontaneous clinical actions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing behavioral intentions to use defibrillators among clinical nurses in South Korea.
• To adapt and apply a modified predictive technology acceptance model 2 (TAM 2) in this context.
• To identify direct and indirect determinants of defibrillator use intention.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 467 clinical nurses with over six months of experience.
• Path analysis was utilized to examine the relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• Perceived image, organizational support, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness directly influenced defibrillator use intention.
• Job autonomy and total career experience indirectly impacted intention.
• Key factors influencing nurses' willingness to use defibrillators were identified.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing nurses' perceived ease of use, usefulness, and organizational support is vital for increasing defibrillator use.
• Improving job autonomy and addressing nurse anxiety are necessary policy considerations.
• Optimizing work environments and establishing policy foundations can improve clinical nurses' competence and prompt action during IHCA.