J Nurs Acad Soc.  1995 Dec;25(4):617-632.

A Correlation of the Computer Anxiety and the Variables Affecting the Application of a Hospital Computer System

• Kim YS
• Park JW

Abstract

Nowadays, most big hospitals have a computer system to manage their administration. For maximum effectiveness in managing the computer system, an analysis of the variables affecting its implementation is necessary from the beginning. This study was done to analyze the variables influencing the operation of a hospital information system (HIS). The theoretical base for this study considered the combined effects of user expectations of computerization, and computer-anxiety. The relationship between variables in the theoretical base were analyzed and the individual characteristics influencing each variable were also analyzed. This study was done in two steps. First, 344 nurses were given an initial questionnaire developed to evaluate the reliability of the items. Based on the results, a second revised questionnaire was administered to 88 nurses who had been working in the areas where HIS was applied. The results of the first and second steps of the study are as follows: 1. The initial study was done with nurses who were trained on the computer system briefly before HIS was implemented. The individual characteristics influencing computer anxiety and expectation regarding computer system usage in that initial study included, length of career, type of degree or certification, previous experiences with a computer, training on a computer, desire for computer training, and level of acceptance of a computerized work environment. But in the second study with nurses working in areas of the hospital where HIS was introduced, the work site was the only influencing characteristics. Therefore, in applying a computer system, overcoming work-environment barriers will be more important than any individual characteristics. 2. The computer anxiety of the nurses in both groups, before and after the computer system application, was below the average level but the expectation of the effects of computerization was above average. The nurses using the computer program showed an above average level of satisfaction with the computer system itself, and with its effect on their efficiency. Therefore, the ability of nurses operating HIS will be positively predictive. 3. For the variables included in the theoretical framework of the study, all of the correlational coefficients were statistically significant in the analysis of variation correlation. Therefore, the theoretical base of the study, "expectation in conjunction with computer anxiety" can be considered an model which can be evaluated. According to our analysis, the higher the level of nurses' motivation to use the computer system and the lower the anxiety about computer usage, the higher the possibility of computer system acceptance by nurses. The results of this study showed that in applying a computer system in the hospital, the main characteristic influencing acceptance was where the individual worked rather than personal characteristics such as length of career, type of degree or certification, and previous experiences with a computer. Therefore, it is suggested that the first step in uncovering and eliminating hindrance factors in application of a computer system should be an analysis of working conditions in relation to the functional content of the computer system. The suitability of the theoretical model based on the hypothesis applied in this study should be further tested.

MeSH Terms

Anxiety*
Certification
Computer Systems*
Hospital Information Systems
Humans
Models, Theoretical
Motivation
Surveys and Questionnaires
Workplace