Evaluation of a Nursing Intranet Using a Two-Phase Approach

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatics
• Information Science

Background:

• Organizational intranets, while common in corporate settings, are also utilized in healthcare.
• These intranets function similarly to the internet but include security firewalls for restricted access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the content, design, and functionality of a Nursing Intranet within a New Zealand healthcare organization.
• To identify strengths and areas for improvement in the intranet's utility for healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase evaluation process was employed.
• This included a content audit followed by an evaluation using a selected framework.

Main Results:

• The evaluation identified specific strengths of the Nursing Intranet.
• Key areas requiring improvement in content, design, and functionality were also identified.

Conclusions:

• The Nursing Intranet has potential but requires enhancements for optimal usability.
• Further research and development of evaluation tools are necessary to improve information accessibility for health professional staff.