Rapid digital health technology implementation during a health care crisis – a cross-sectional mixed methods survey of nurses’ experiences

Abstract

<p>Successful implementation of digital health technologies (DHT) into nursing is a multifaceted process, requiring careful consideration of individual, organisational and external factors. Building digital literacy in the nursing workforce is key in successful DHT implementation, but little is known about how the need to expedite the digital health transformation during a health care crisis affects DHT implementation in nursing.</p><p>The aim of this cross-sectional mixed methods study was to explore nurses’ experiences of the implementation and use of DHTs to support care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. A previously developed survey was translated into Finnish and distributed via professional and social media networks of the researchers using the snowball technique. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, inductive qualitative content analysis and thematic categorisation.</p><p>55 participants including registered nurses and nurse managers responded to the survey. The respondents were asked to describe the implementation of up to three DHTs, resulting in 84 individual DHT descriptions. These included DHTs to promote communication between the service user and the professional, professional communication, patient monitoring, documentation, medication administration and nursing management. Four approaches to support nursing professionals through digital health transformation were identified: 1) promoting the usability of DHTs, 2) enhancing patient care through DHTs, 3) providing comprehensive digital skill training and 4) fostering motivation to DHT use.</p><p>The participants expressed mainly positive attitudes and experiences regarding DHT implementation, but the results indicate that nursing-specific needs have not adequately been addressed in their development and implementation, calling for better nurse involvement in interdisciplinary DHT development initiatives. Enhancing digital literacy throughout all levels of nursing as well as the strategies to successfully guide expedited implementation of DHTs during future crises are needed to support the provision of safe and high-quality care. Strategies to strengthen the organisational and digital infrastructure to support and motivate nurse engagement in DHT development can improve their usability, acceptability, and outcomes.</p>