THE INFLUENCE OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ON PROFESSIONAL NURSES' KNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPTANCE OF A COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE DOCUMENTATION OF NURSING PROCESS.
Contributors: George Mason University.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 420
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.; Information Science.
Description: Numerous studies have examined nurses' attitudes toward computers in healthcare. None has investigated the influence of nurses' knowledge of computers on their attitudes. The study examined the influence of an instructional program designed to prepare nurses to use a clinical information system. Nurses' knowledge level and attitudes toward clinical systems were measured prior to and immediately after the course. Demographic and background information was collected at the time of the pretest. Program evaluation was conducted at the time of the post test. Participants completed the third and final surveys for knowledge and attitudes four to six weeks after attending the course.

Pretest results showed that attitudes were already positive in this group of subjects. Their knowledge of system features and functions was weak. Post test results demonstrated a significant increase in level of knowledge and positive attitudes toward a computerized nursing care planning system. These outcomes were sustained after four to six weeks without statistically significant changes in either knowledge or attitudes. A strong association between increased knowledge and more positive attitudes was observed from pretest to post test. This relationship was not sustained from post test to the final survey. At the final survey, no consistent pattern of changes in knowledge and attitude scores was observed. Both prior computer experience and prior clinical experience preparing nursing care plans and nursing diagnoses exerted significant influence on pretest attitude outcomes.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-05, Section: B, page: 2563.

Thesis (PH.D.)--GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, 1995.

School code: 0883.