Computer Literacy and its Perceived Usefulness among Nurses Working in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano

Abstract

Worldwide, information technology (IT), specifically computers and health information systems, are being integrated into many clinical arenas. There is evidence that, when successfully implemented, this technology can significantly improve clinical practice and care delivery, also, the survival of nursing depends on its embracing of technology. This study aims to determine the computer literacy and it perceived usefulness among nurses. Cross sectional descriptive research design was used; the total number of population for the study was 258. 173 respondents were chosen as the sample size using slovin’s formula with 10% attrition. A convenient sampling technique was employed for the study. A structured questionnaire adapted by the researcher and developed from the literature review was used as instrument for data collection. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23.0) Data were presented using frequency distribution tables and simple percentages. Major findings revealed that close to half of the nurses (45.0%) have good knowledge of computer, more than half of the nurses (53.1%) perceived computer literacy to nursing profession to be good and 93.1% see lack of personal computer as a barrier to computer literacy. The study concluded that the majority of the nurses have good perception regarding computer literacy to nursing profession, it also found that less than half of the nurses have good knowledge of computer. The study recommends that for best practices, there is need for improvement in computer literacy among nurses which can be exploited in practice when new IT applications are implemented on daily practice in the hospitals.