Preparation for Working in a Digital Health Environment Among Sri Lankan Nurses

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Nursing Education
• Digital Health Transformation

Background:

• Sri Lanka's healthcare sector is experiencing a significant digital transformation.
• Nurses form the largest segment of the health workforce and are crucial for digital health adoption.
• Assessing nurse preparedness is vital for successful implementation of digital health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the digital health preparedness of registered nurses in Sri Lanka.
• To understand nurses' attitudes towards working in a digital health environment.
• To identify gaps in digital health training and opportunities for nurses.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted among registered nurses in Sri Lanka.
• An online survey tool was utilized to collect data on digital health preparedness.
• Data analysis focused on assessing nurses' readiness, attitudes, and training needs.

Main Results:

• Nurses expressed a positive outlook and willingness to work in a digital health environment.
• A notable gap exists between nurses' enthusiasm and their current level of digital health preparedness.
• Limited availability of formal training and development opportunities in digital health was identified.

Conclusions:

• Sri Lankan nurses are receptive to digital health integration into their practice.
• There is an urgent need to enhance digital health training programs for nurses.
• Strategic interventions are required to bridge the preparedness gap and support the digital transformation of healthcare in Sri Lanka.