The confidence and competence of community nurses in using information and communications technology and in accessing clinical evidence through electronic libraries and databases
<strong>Introduction</strong> Little is known about the confidence and competence of community nurses in using information and communications technology. This survey set out to explore this issue. <strong>Method</strong> A questionnaire survey was sent out in the latter half...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
2002-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Innovation in Health Informatics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hijournal.bcs.org/index.php/jhi/article/view/267 |
| Summary: | <strong>Introduction</strong> Little is known about the confidence and competence of community nurses in using information and communications technology. This survey set out to explore this issue.
<strong>Method</strong> A questionnaire survey was sent out in the latter half of 2001 to all community nurses in a London community trust. The questionnaire also provided the opportunity for free-text comments.
<strong>Results</strong> In total, 402 community nurses received questionnaires and 106 (26%) responded. Over half of the respondents felt they were not confident to use email and only just under half the Internet. Nearly a quarter lacked either the skills to use a keyboard or mouse. Less than 10% felt confident or very confident to use online sources of evidence.
<strong>Conclusions</strong> Even taking into account the low response rate, a large proportion of community nurses lack the confidence and basic competencies to enable them to function effectively in a health service pledged to electronic operation by 2005. |
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| ISSN: | 2058-4555 2058-4563 |