Towards an Informatics Competent Nursing Profession: Validation of the Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competency Scale (SANICS) Before and After Online Informatics Training

Date

2015-05

Contributor

Advisor

Department

Instructor

Depositor

Speaker

Researcher

Consultant

Interviewer

Narrator

Transcriber

Annotator

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Volume

Number/Issue

Starting Page

Ending Page

Alternative Title

Abstract

Nurses should be involved in healthcare initiatives that incorporate informatics as an essential tool for improving health outcomes (IOM, 2010). However, nurses frequently report lack of competency to perform the most basic computer functions, outside of those required within their work environment (Hwang, 2011). Without educational or training interventions, nurses are limited in their ability to effectively use information technology in practice (Greiner, 2003). This study explored the psychometric performance of the Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Scale (SANICS) when used to measure informatics competency in a population of entry-level nursing students. Data collected before and after an online informatics training intervention (SOLO-IT) confirmed the factor structure and internal consistency reliability of the SANICS. Statistically significant increases (p < 0.001) were reported by participants (n = 496) on 27 of 30 items measuring self-perceptions of informatics competencies. Significant differences (p < 0.001) in each sub-scale mean score before and after completion of SOLO-IT confirmed the construct validity of the SANICS. Results of this study support the SANICS as a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring perceived informatics competencies in entry level nursing students. Diffusion of informatics competency throughout the nursing workforce could depend upon the availability of on-demand training resources and valid instruments which support nurses as competent users of informatics in an era of ubiquitous health information technology. Findings from this study provide preliminary evidence that SOLO-IT may be an effective tool for improving perceptions of informatics competencies among entry level nursing students. Future studies are recommended using paired samples of nurses and nursing students from diverse populations, as well as studies which correlate perceived competencies with actual demonstrated skills.

Description

Keywords

Informatics

Citation

Extent

Format

Geographic Location

Time Period

Related To

Theses for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Nursing

Related To (URI)

Table of Contents

Rights

Rights Holder

Local Contexts

Collections

Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.