Stress experience by information and communication technologies among nurses in outpatient care - A qualitative interview study

Abstract

Stress experience by information and communication technologies among nurses in outpatient care - A qualitative interview study Abstract: Background: "Work 4.0" is also becoming increasingly prevalent in outpatient care through information and communication technologies (ICT). In addition to a variety of options that ICT offers nursing staff, its use leads to additional stresses. Aims: The aim of the study is to identify relevant stress categories that are caused using ICT and provide an additional influence on the stress experience of employees in outpatient care. Methods: Problem-centred interviews were conducted with eight nurses from three outpatient care organizations as part of a qualitative study. Subsequently, these interviews were transcribed and evaluated using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Results: Ten factors were identified that were perceived as stress by ambulatory care employees: for example, insufficient participation and usability, increased documentation effort, information overload. Regarding the employees' ability to work and their health, no relevant impairments could be derived that could be attributed to the identified additional strains. Conclusions: Further analysis of the potential stress situations that could result from ICT use is needed to include this knowledge in primary prevention. It makes sense to establish demand-, participation-, and process-oriented structures in outpatient care organizations. The use of ICT can also be an advantage because, for example, information can be obtained more quickly.