As good as it gets? Going online with a clinical information system

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Nursing Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Clinical Information Systems (CIS) are increasingly implemented in healthcare settings.
• Understanding nursing staff attitudes during and after CIS implementation is crucial for successful adoption.
• Previous research has explored factors influencing technology adoption among healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze nursing staff attitudes towards a Clinical Information System (CIS) at three distinct time points: pre-implementation, 1 month post-implementation, and 6 months post-implementation.
• To identify factors correlating with nursing staff perceptions of the CIS.
• To assess the changes in attitudes over the initial six months of CIS use.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study design was employed, surveying nursing staff at three intervals.
• A 12-item questionnaire assessed perceptions of the CIS.
• Statistical analyses examined relationships between perceptions and demographic/experiential factors (adaptability, unit technical level, job experience, age, personal computer experience).

Main Results:

• Positive correlations were found between CIS perceptions and adaptability, unit technical level, and years of job experience (p < 0.013, p < 0.012, p < 0.048, respectively).
• No significant relationship was observed between CIS perceptions and nurse age or personal computer experience.
• While attitudes generally became less positive over time, the change from pre-implementation to 1 month was not statistically significant. However, the decline in positivity from 1 month to 6 months was statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Nursing staff adaptability, the technical environment of the unit, and professional experience are key factors influencing positive perceptions of Clinical Information Systems.
• Attitudes towards CIS may decline over extended periods of use, highlighting the need for ongoing support and evaluation.
• Healthcare organizations should consider these factors during CIS implementation to foster sustained positive user attitudes and optimize system utilization.