Nursing informatics skills relevance and competence for final year nursing students

Background: The increasing use of technology in nursing practice requires nursing students to be competent in nursing informatics with an attitude of acceptance of technology in the healthcare environment. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine final year nursing students' perceptions and skills in nursing informatics and their attitudes towards computerisation in nursing practice. Method: The study population were 198 final year nursing students from a selected university in the Western Cape, South Africa. All-inclusive sampling was used. A descriptive survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire which included two validated scales, namely the validated Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment Tool (NICAT) and the Nurses' Attitudes towards Computerisation scale. Means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the ratings of the perceived relevance of nursing informatics skills in nursing practice, perceived levels of competence in nursing informatics skills and attitudes towards computers were calculated. Results: A total of 91 undergraduate respondents completed the survey. Computer literacy skills were rated overall as most relevant (4.23, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 4.06­4.40) and the skills perceived most competent (4.16, 95% CI: 3.81­4.22). The respondents had an overall positive score for attitudes towards computerisation in healthcare (67.34, s.d. = 10.40, 95% CI: 65.18­69.51). Conclusion: The study concluded that computer literacy skills, informatics literacy skills and information management skills were relevant to nursing practice, despite varying levels of competence in these skills among nurses.

Computer Knowledge amongst Clinical year Medical Students in a Resource Poor Setting

Objective: To study the computer knowledge and desires of clinical year medical students at one of the oldest and largest medical schools in Nigeria. Design: A survey using validated structured questionnaires. Setting: Medical school of Ahmadu Bello University; Zaria; Nigeria.Subjects: Two hundred and thirty seven clinical year (4th; 5th and 6th years) medical students. Outcome measures: Computer knowledge; mode of acquiring computer knowledge; regular access to computer; desire for inclusion of computer training in curriculum. Results: One hundred twenty (50.6) students had knowledge of computer technology and it use. Of these; 108 (90) had no regularaccess to a computer and none owned a computer; only 32 (26.7) were sufficiently familiar with computer tools to perform advanced tasks; but 72 (60) were comfortable with word processing. Seventy two of the 120 students acquired their computer knowledge through self-learning efforts while 45 (37.5) attended short periods of formal training. Overall; 45.7of males and 64.5of females had computer knowledge. The main reason for lack of computer knowledge was lack of time and lack of access to a computer. Eighty percent of all students would like computer education to be included in medical school curriculum. Conclusion: Knowledge and use of computers amongst clinical year medical students in this setting is low. It is important that computer education be taught to the students to enhance their ability to use electronic information and communicate more effectively using computer resources

Pattern of Ocular Diseases among Computer users in Enugu; Nigeria

Objective: To determine the pattern of ocular disorders among computer users in Enugu. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of computer users was conducted in Enugu metropolis between August and December 2000. 560 subjects were selected by simple random sampling method. Examination methods include use of interviewer-administered structured questionnaire; visual acuity tests for distance and near; external eye examination; tonometry; direct ophthalmoscopy; retinoscopy and measurement of the distance between the operator and the computer. Result: A total of 354(63.2) females and 206(36.8) males were recruited for the study. Majority of the subjects (85.6) were under 34 years of age. Two hundred and eleven (37.7) out of five hundred and sixty subjects interviewed and examined had ocular disorders. Common ocular disorders seen include refractive errors (55); presbyopia (16.6); Pterygium (14.7); conjunctivitis (6.6). 7 subjects (1.3) had monocular blindness with VA

Prevalence of Asthenopia among Computer Users in Enugu; Southeast Nigeria

A cross-sectional survey of 560 computer users in Enugu urban; Enugu State was conducted between August and December 2002.The prevalence of asthenopic symptoms and risk factors to the occurrence of asthenopia were determined. Method: Interview was done using structured; pre-tested; interviewer- administered questionnaire. Subjects were examined with Snellen's chart to measure distance visual acuity; jaegers reading chart for near acuity; pen torch for anterior segment examination; direct ophthalmoscope for fundoscopy; streak retinoscope for refraction and metre tape for distance between the screen and the subject. Result: Out of 560 subjects interviewed and examined 401 (71.6) had asthenopic symptoms. Headache was the most common symptom occurring in 35of the subjects. Tearing was seen in 27.1; ocular discomfort or pains accounted for 26.6. Some subjects had more than one symptom. Presence of ametropia was found to be significantly related to the occurrence of asthenopia (P=0.0); as also the female gender compared to the males; P=0.0000007. Distance of operators to their monitors; age of operators and the use of screen filters did not seem to significantly influence occurrence of asthenopia (P= 0.71; P=0.55 and P=0.39 respectively). Majority of the subjects (96) had good vision (VA of 6/6- 6/18). Conclusion: Presence of ametropia is related to occurrence of asthenopia. Correction of existing ametropia would contribute to visual comfort of computer (vdt) users. Pre- employment and regular ocular examination should be made accessible to those who make regular and long use of computers

Computer technology and the surgeon: what the resident needs to know

Background: Computer technology is now a well established resource in medicine and medical sciences. Surgery in developed countries has taken great advantage of this resource. This review is intended to highlight important aspects of computers in surgery and also encourages surgeons in Nigeria to acquaint themselves with its influences. Methods: Publications from local and international journals as well as standard surgical texts were reviewed. Results: The role of computers in surgery spans the areas of patient care, training, research, communication as well as surgical administration. Though a compliment to the surgeon, it has its problems including overwhelming information requiring careful scrutiny; computer fraud, hacking and viruses; copyright laws; the 'threat' of a well-informed patient population; and the risk of over dependence. Surgery in Nigeria and most of African is yet to maximize its benefits. Conclusion: The application of computers in surgery will in the near future make surgical knowledge and practice become more simplified and less time with increased productivity will be required even for highly technical procedures

Information back-up for Zimbabwe's healthworkers : application of microcomputers and laser disc technologies

This paper outlines attempts being made to counter long standing deficiencies and information back-up for Zimbabwe's health workers; and the present and potential contribution of micro-computers and optical disc technology to theseefforts. It analyses in detail the following: survery of health information needs and resources; core collections of books and journals; MEDLINE on CD-ROM; literature searches and evaluation of the service

CD-ROM comes to Zimbabwe : a high tech but appropriate information service for a developing country's health workers

This paper analyses the problems of providing good information support for development programmes with specific reference to Zimbabwe's health information requirements. A survey of information resources and needs and responses to the information needs of users is focused upon and notably: MEDLINE literature searches; online access to MEDLINE; CD-ROM as a solution and the problems and constraints encountered

Health information sources in a developing country : Zimbabwe's priorities

This paper reports on the information isolation experienced soon after independence by many of Zimbabwe's health professionals; and on recent and current moves - some tried and tested some not - to counter that isolation and improve the supply of appropriate material and data. It highlights the following: surveys of information needs; national focal point for health information services; outreach services; information sources and projects undertaken by The Universityof Zimbabwe Medical Library