Thesis (M. Ed.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998. / Bibliography: leaves 104-114.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Department of Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background In response to the advances made in information technology (IT), many healthcare institutions worldwide have integrated IT into their healthcare systems. Some hospitals in South Africa have changed to a computer- based system for the delivery of nursing care and nursing documentation, whereas others still use a paper-based system. The main aim of introducing IT in nursing is to improve the quality of nursing care. Research has shown, however, that IT can negatively impact on the quality of nursing care rather than improve it. This study compared the delivery of nursing care in two public hospitals in the eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal: one hospital which uses a computer-based documentation system for patient care and one hospital which uses a paper-based documentation system. Aim of the study The aim of the study is to determine the effects of IT on the delivery of nursing care as experienced by registered and enrolled nurses working in the hospital setting. Methodology A quantitative comparative descriptive design was used in this study. The delivery of nursing care in a hospital which uses a computer-based documentation system for patient care was compared with a hospital which uses a paper-based documentation system. The participants in this study were registered and enrolled nurses working in the wards and units of the two selected hospitals. Data was collected through the administration of a questionnaire (Appendix G) directed at the registered and enrolled nurses in the two hospitals involved in the study. One hundred percent of registered and enrolled nurses in the two selected hospitals at the time of data collection were approached and invited to participate in the study. One hundred and four participants for the hospital which uses a computer-based documentation system and 104 participants for the hospital which uses a paper-based documentation system were willing to participate in the study. Data was summarised and described using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, measures of central tendency such as means and modes, as well as means of variability such as range, variance and standard deviation. Graphs and tables were used to graphically represent the data. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22. Findings The effects of IT on the delivery of nursing care was measured by the quality of nursing documentation, the amount of time nurses have available for hands-on patient care and the reduction of medication errors. This study revealed that IT positively affected the experiences of nurses with the delivery of nursing care, with only a few exceptions. Information technology did not decrease the use of unauthorised abbreviations. It also did not improve the time nursing care was rendered being reflected in nursing documentation. Errors being made when entering patient data from, for example, cardiac monitors, intravenous pumps or results to investigations into the patient’s record were not decreased by IT. Furthermore, IT failed to improve nurses being alerted to drug interactions and to contra-indications of prescribed medications. There were a few instances where IT had a negative effect on the delivery of nursing care. Information technology increased the need to copy the same data when creating and updating a nursing care plan as well as documenting nursing care. Although the need for taking telephonic orders was reduced through the use of IT, it was found that when nurses in the hospital with a computer-based documentation system took telephonic orders, errors were made more often than when nurses in the hospital with a paper-based documentation system took telephonic orders. / M

Information Technology (IT) is revolutionizing every sphere of human interaction. IT has changed the way individuals communicate. In the healthcare system, information technologies are considered the key to addressing challenges to healthcare delivery such as shortages of healthcare professionals, and networking. Therefore, healthcare providers need to possess information technology skills, knowledge, and resources to communicate and manage information effectively and efficiently and also to be able to perform their duties adequately in such an information technology age. Nurses, the largest group of healthcare providers who spend the most time with patients, are also frontline healthcare managers and need to have access to IT and should be computer literate in order to perform their duties quickly and adequately. In South Africa, the health system has been slow in integrating IT into healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and remote areas where such services are most needed. A "digital divide" exists, by which access to computers and the internet remain a privilege, and many nurses are unable to use a computer even after completing the computer literacy courses. This study aims to investigate the challenges faced by professional nurses to access and use information technology in healthcare facilities after being trained. Data was collected through focus group discussions conducted with professional nurses from two regional and four district hospitals. Participants who had received computer training offered by the Department of Health were selected to ensure that issues beyond a lack of training could be explored. Focus group discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to identify themes from the transcriptions. Results show that professional nurses had little access to information technology. Reasons given were a lack of hardware and appropriate software, insufficient training and lack of support, irrelevance of the computer courses, and negative attitudes towards computers. Despite previous computer training, the professional nurses interviewed felt they lacked the skills to use computers confidently in their daily activities. The quality of the training was perceived as inadequate and irrelevant with a lack of ongoing support to cement new skills and build confidence. The provision of training workshops for nurses is not sufficient to ensure that IT will be used for healthcare delivery. On-going support an motivation, among others, are needed to encourage nurses to use IT efficiently. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Background The rapid growth in information and communication technology (ICT) in the 21st century has impacted all spheres of human activity, including the health sector. The change introduced by ICT requires educational institutions to relook at the way in which they develop and implement their education programmes. In contemporary clinical practice environments, ICT skills are providing benefits for nurses as well as for the patients they care for. Aim The aim of the study was to investigate the status of usage of ICT by academic staff, students and administrators within campuses of the KwaZulu-Natal College of Nursing which consists of 11 main campuses and 14 sub-campuses. Methodology A quantitative, cross sectional study was conducted which included academic staff, administrative staff, and students (R425 and R212) of the KwaZulu-Natal College of Nursing. A random sample of 576 individuals participated in the study consisting of academic staff (176); administrative staff (30) and students (340). Participants completed a questionnaire that established their demographic data and ICT usage. Results The questionnaire response rate was academic staff (80%), students (89%) and administrative staff (93%). The findings showed that while respondents were able to manage work related activities; they experienced poor access to computer training with 66% indicating they had access to computer training. The access to computer training for the administrative staff was 50%, with 8% of rural and 1% of urban students having access to training. The majority of academic staff have access to desktop computers with there still being a divide in terms of rural access as compared to urban access p=0.24. Significantly more administrative staff had access to desktop computers than those who do not p<.0005. The access to desktop computers for students was low, with 22% of respondents in both rural and urban campuses indicating that they have access. Access to the internet was low for all respondent groups with a significant difference between those who have access compared to those who do not have access p=<.0005, for both the academic and student groups. There is a low use of ICT for the purposes of teaching and learning with the majority of respondents (60%) indicating that they do not use ICT for teaching compared to those who do p=.0007. All respondent groups have experienced poor ICT support with the majority indicating that they do not receive ICT support p=<.0005. The usage of the online library was low for all groups, with 61% of academic staff, not accessing the online library for reasons of access, or knowledge about the library, 23% of urban students and 20% of rural students have indicated ever using the online library. Conclusion The study highlights the need for the KZNCN to be on par with higher education institutions globally in access to and usage of ICT. Benchmarking with higher education institutions in the health and other sectors is essential, in order for the KZNCN to benefit from the trend in incorporating technology into the teaching and learning process. Strong collaboration is necessary between the KZNCN as an academic institution and clinical health facilities to ensure that the developments in ICT within both sectors are reflected in the teaching and learning process, so that graduating nurses are able to function effectively. Clear policy documents and guidelines are required for the KZNCN which reflect the norms required for both ICT equipment and systems to enable functioning of the institution within an increasingly technological environment.