Knowledge And Utilization Of Information Technology Among Nurses And Midwives In Secondary Health Care Facilities, Kaduna State
Joseph Jonathan Gimba
Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kafanchan Campus, Nigeria
Mercy Josiah
Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Yusuf Abolore Lawal
Nigerian Army College Of Nursing, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Olajumoke Ileola Dele-Alonge
School Of Nursing, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Olluwaseun Rolake Alake
School Of Nursing, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Keywords: Information Technology, KNOWLEDGE AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, NURSES AND MIDWIVES IN SECONDARY HEALTH CARE, Attitude of nurses towards computer, Utilization of computer nurses
Abstract
Background: In today’s world, no one questions the need to incorporate information technology (IT) into key clinical and administrative processes of healthcare delivery. Thus IT is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of complete overhauls of healthcare systems in developed and developing societies and its use in healthcare settings is no longer something that is good to have, but something that we need to have hence, the present study. Aim and objectives: The study is aimed at investigating Nurses and Midwives Knowledge and Utilization of IT across the secondary health care facilities in Kaduna state, Northwest, Nigeria. Other specific objectives includes: (1).To ascertain Knowledge of IT among respondents. (2).To assess the Attitude of Nurses and Midwives towards IT. (3).To determine Utilization of IT among respondents in the study setting. Method: A descriptive survey was used for the study. The study population were Nurses and Midwives that have been in the employ of Kaduna state government for not less than one year and are working in secondary facilities. A sample size of 399 Nurses and Midwives was used. Study respondents who met the inclusion criteria for the study were drawn proportionately from the three senatorial districts of the state using simple random sampling technique who were given self-structured questionnaire for their responses. Data entry was done using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22 while hypotheses testing was done using chi-square at statistical significant level of .05. Findings: Findings revealed a mean score for age of 29.1±14.3. Respondents had adequate knowledge (Mean score = 74.2%) in 10 out of 16 Questionnaire items relating to knowledge of computers. Overall, majority (70.6 %, n=180)) of the respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of computer by having a final score above the 70% cut off mark. Attitude of respondents was positive as majority reported to have had training in computer with many having their PC. Study results, however, showed inadequate (mean score 53.7%) utilization of computer among the respondents as more than half (59.6%, n=152) of the respondents had a final score less than the70% cut off mark. There was association between knowledge and utilization of computer and there is difference in the utilization of computer across senatorial districts. Conclusion: The study revealed that knowledge of computer, senatorial districts respectively associated with utilization of computer among respondents in the study setting.