The relationship between in-service training nurses’ attitudes toward computer in health care and computer anxiety in Turkey

Abstract

Nurses’ perception relating to using technology and computer can directly affect how they structure in-service and continous education programmes. This research was planned as a descriptive-correlational design to determine the relationship between in-service training nurses’ attitudes toward computer in health care and computer anxiety. Research was realized with 116 in-service training nurses who work at Education Department of Istanbul Local Health Authority and primary, secondary and tertiary health institution subordinate Istanbul Local Health Authority. Data were collected after getting permission from Istanbul Local Health Authority considering voluntariness with “Personal Information Form”, “Attitudes Toward Computer in Health Care Assessment Scale (P.A.T.C.H. Assesment Scale)” and “Computer Anxiety Scale (CAS)”. Research data were analyzed with SPSS package program. Mean of the P.A.T.C.H. Assesment Scale was found as 20.07±11.91, mean of the CAS was found as 39.31±9.52. There is a moderate negatively significant correlation between the attitude of the in-service training nurses toward computer in health care and their computer anxiety (r: -0.502 p≤0.01). The results of research are limited to in-service training nurses who work in Istanbul and are not generalized to all in-service training nurses. The research findings suggests that in-service training nurses have positive attitude toward computer in health care and low computer anxiety. These findings will enable in-service training nurses to consider the importance of using technology and computer. Understanding these concepts is beneficial in efforts to improve the educational activities offered to nurses, other medical staff and patients.