Telematics in ambulatory care: Exploring the nurses' perspective

Abstract

In the context of demographic change, the use of information and communications technology in home care has the aim of ensuring the quality of nursing care in the future. The acceptance of telematic applications by all users is crucial in this regard. The aim of this study was to assess the subjective attitudes and intentions of nursing staff on telematic applications in home care. Based on the "Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology" (UTAUT), an online survey was conducted in which nursing staff as well as nursing students throughout Germany were surveyed. 371 questionnaires have been included in the analysis. Nursing students as well as nurses stated inadequate information and insufficient technical competence. Referring to performance expectations, both groups hope for improving care process transparency and communication inside and outside sectors. For effort expectancy, higher costs, training efforts and technology dependency were named. The results show the relevance of the attitudes and demands of users for a successful implementation. In the future, training and further education should increasingly promote the technological competence of nursing staff.