The Relationship between Healthcare Providers' Attitudes Towards the Use of Computer and their Informatics Competencies in Hospital Practice

Abstract

Introduction: In the current healthcare environment, health information technology is a popular and powerful method for transforming the quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care. From last-stage bedside service to the first-stage outpatient clinical service, technology supports and facilitates clinical management. Clinicians and healthcare providers must prepare for the role of providing and conducting safe and effective care in clinical practices. With the development of more and more integrated healthcare information systems, computerizing clinical practice is inevitable. Moreover, since informatics competence provides effective working skills for nurses, it must be evaluated for use with progressive informatics tools to support both the technology and the professional domain of care, as acquiring necessary informatics competencies is highly demanding. Caring activities reach clients directly at the front line, so the implementation of informatics competency should begin with the input and support of providers in direct nursing services.