UNDERGRADUATES ATTITUDES TOWARDS USAGE OF COMPUTERS IN HEALTH CARE

Contents

INTRODUCTION AIM METHODOLOGY RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

NIMHANS

Introduction
Computer knowledge and skills are becoming essential components technology in nursing education. The use of technology in nursing education is a relatively new and novel phenomenon. It is crucial that student nurses be prepared with the knowledge and skills that are essential for providing quality care in India and the world community. Contd
3
NIMHANS

From the beginning of the high technological orientation in health care in the 1970s to the personal computer in the 1980s and the Internet boom of the 1990s, technology usage has impacted nursing education dramatically (Mallow & Gilje, 1999). In response to this trend, INC has initiated a requirement that all students must successfully complete an introductory computer course at BSc level. Contd
4
NIMHANS

To accommodate the needs of students, and, at the same time, facilitate their acquisition of skills, our college has equipped computer laboratory with 20 computers. These technological advances have assisted the students by enhancing their learning. However, there has been little attention given to the students attitudes about computer usage in the health care in India.
5
NIMHANS

Important studies are

Computer instruction has been proved as successful implementation to change the attitudes toward computers (Ajuwon, 2003; Alsebail, 2004; Ayoub et al., 1999; Chin, 2001; Lewis, 1999; Mastrian & McGonigle, 1999). This research is the first study in India to explore nursing students attitudes about the use of computers in health care.

NIMHANS

AIM

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of baccalaureate degree seeking student nurses attitudes toward computer usage in health care.
.

NIMHANS

Methodology
Study design Cross sectional descriptive study Location College of Nursing, NIMHANS, Bangalore

Sample size 161 Nursing Students Sampling Technique Non-probability convenience sample
Contd
8
NIMHANS

Inclusion criteria

1. Student nurses who were studying at College of Nursing, NIMHANS 2. Student nurses who are willing to participate Exclusion criteria Student nurses who were not willing to participate
Contd..
9
NIMHANS

Data collection tools

1. Socio demographic proforma: includes

Age, gender, religion, income and back

ground of the participants.

2. Pretest for Attitudes Toward

Computers in Healthcare (PATCH)

developed by Kaminski, J. (2007) to be

rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1, strongly disagree, to 4, strongly agree.
10
NIMHANS

Score Interpretations
0 to 17 points Positive indication of Cyber phobia

18 to 34 points
35 to 52 points

Indicates some uneasiness about using computers.

Moderate comfort in using computers.

53 to 69 points

Feels comfortable using user-friendly computer applications.

Confident of ability to use a variety of computer programs. Very confident that they can learn to use a computer to boost creativity, and perform routine functions.

70 to 86 points 87 to 100 points

11

NIMHANS

Procedure
Obtained permission from authorities

Subjects were approached &provided with a brief oral description of the study.

Obtained their verbal consent& asked to complete the questionnaire.

All data were handled anonymously

12

NIMHANS

Data analysis
The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 16.0) was used to generate descriptive and inferential statistics at a significant level of 0.05. Responses of the negatively worded items were reversed before data analysis. The higher the score, favourable is the attitude towards use of computers in health care.

13

NIMHANS

Socio-Demographic variables of Respondents: N= 161 The mean age of nursing students was 18.6 1.03 (MSD) and average income was (in thousands) Rs/- 1.17 12489 (MSD) Majority (n=154, 95.7%) of the students were female and belonged to Christian community (n=131, 81.4%). More than half (52.2%) of the participants were from rural background.

14

NIMHANS

Scores from the questionnaire

Nursing students (N=161)

The average score of the participants was 60.71% which indicates that the participants were comfortable in using user-friendly computer applications.

15

NIMHANS

The findings of association shows that the levels of attitude were not associated with gender, religion and back ground of Nursing students.

16

NIMHANS

Discussion

Nursing students were aware of the usefulness of computers in a variety of settings. Findings shown that the participants have a realistic view of current computer capabilities in healthcare.

Contd
17
NIMHANS

The present study findings were contrary to previous studies that shown participants negative attitudes about the use of computers(Anderson, 1996; Henderson, Deane, & Ward, 1995; Loyd & Gressard, 1987). Indeed, these individuals will not benefit from the science and technology that computers offer in knowledge and skills acquisition in delivering health care (Francisa, Katzb, & Jones, 2000).
18
NIMHANS

On the other hand, students who were exposed to computers in their academic programs might have some preexisting opinions about the use of computers as an enhancement for the acquisition of knowledge and skills in nursing.

19

NIMHANS

Implications of the study

The current study took a very cursory look at the issue of students attitudes towards computers in health care. The findings are expected to be beneficial to university leaders, the nursing faculty and staff, and the students.

Contd
20
NIMHANS

Administration Nurse administrators and educators act together about the future of nursing and health care delivery. Education The findings of this study will assist the educators and administrators at NIMHANS to glean a better understanding of the impact that the addition of the new required computer course has on the nursing students. Contd
21
NIMHANS

Practice Nurses will need to be proficient in computer usage and be able to communicate across a variety of healthcare-system demands. Furthermore, nurses will need to know how to use computers to communicate with physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers in the local and global health care systems. Contd.
22
NIMHANS

Research As nurses become more educated and informed about the use of computers, they will be able to conduct sophisticated research.

23

NIMHANS

Limitations of the study

The sample for this study was limited to the College of Nursing at NIMHANS. Thus, this study would not be generalizable to the entire Indian nursing student population.

24

NIMHANS

Future research should focus

Including larger sample size using random sampling. To assess the attitude of nurse educators, and significant others who are involved in preparing curriculum for Nursing Students. To compare the attitudes of Nursing students with Nurses and Non Nursing students.
25
NIMHANS

Any questions please !!!.....

26

NIMHANS