Determining the Correlation between Nursing Students’ Problem-Solving Skills and Attitudes toward Computer Use in Health Care: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the relation between nursing students’ problem-solving skills and attitudes toward computer use in health care. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and correlational study conducted between December 3 and 7, 2018 in the nursing department of the faculty of health sciences of a university in the northeastern region of Turkey. The study sample comprised 587 (73%) of nursing students. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, the Problem-Solving Inventory and the Pretest for Attitudes Toward Computers in Healthcare scale. Scale total scores and subscale and subgroup mean scores were calculated. Descriptive statistics were presented as numbers and percentages. Data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H, and Spearman correlation tests. Results: The mean age of participants was 20.66±1.79 years. Of the participants, 61.0% were women. They had mean scores of 93.41±18.73 and 8.36±9.58 on the Problem-Solving Inventory and the Pretest for Attitudes Toward Computers in Healthcare scale, respectively. The Problem-Solving Inventory was weakly and negatively related with the Pretest for Attitudes Toward Computers in Healthcare scale (p = 0.000, r = -0.363). Conclusion: This study found that nursing students who had low scores on the Problem-Solving Inventory, that is, stronger problem-solving skills, demonstrated more positive attitudes toward computer use in health care. Based on these results, the following recommendations were made. Students’ problem-solving skills should be evaluated at the beginning of each academic year. During clinical internships, mentor nurses should introduce students to nursing informatics.