Nursing Informatics

A special issue of Informatics (ISSN 2227-9709).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2017) | Viewed by 29113

Special Issue Editor

Brookfield Health Services Complex, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Interests: hand hygiene; infection control; behaviour; ehealth; ICT

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

If one phrase could describe how the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has evolved within healthcare delivery, it would be ICT paradigm shift. The role of ICT in healthcare delivery has been increasing since the 1980s to become an essential aspect of health care delivery [1]. Its impetus for use in nursing or midwifery practice is to enhance clinical practice rather than serving administrative or managerial purposes [2]. Its integration into health care delivery is referred to as eHealth or informatics. The World Health Organization published a ‘National eHealth Strategy Toolkit’ [3], reflecting a global drive to improve patient safety, outcomes, healthcare accountability and transparency through the use of ICT. This policy document builds on seminal patient safety documents, such as “To Err is Human” [4] or “Keeping Patients Safe” [5] that point specifically to how integrating technology in healthcare positively affects patient outcomes. Nevertheless, nurses have mixed views about using ICT in patient care delivery. Some nurses worry about losing the human touch [6] while others are more positive [7]. Given that nurses are the largest group of healthcare workers in health settings their current attitudes, knowledge and practices related to ICT and eHealth are of critical interest. In this supplement, nurses and midwives insight into how they use ICT and eHealth within their practice is not perceived in a vacuum but rather within a dynamic ICT paradigm shift.

Dr. Sile A. Creedon
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Informatics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

References

  1. Gürdaş Topkaya, S.; Kaya, N. Nurses' computer literacy and attitudes towards the use of computers in health care. J. Nurs. Pract. 2015, 21, 141–149.
  2. Kohn, L.; Corrigan, J; Donaldson, S. To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System; National Academy Press: Washington, DC, USA, 2000.
  3. Page, A. Keeping Patients Safe: Tranforming the Work Environment of Nurses, Washington, National Academies Press: Washington, DC, USA, 2004.
  4. Petit Dit Dariel, O.; Wharrad, H; Windle, R. Exploring the underlying factors influencing e-learning adoption in nurse education. Adv. Nurs. 2013, 69, 1289–1300.
  5. Ridgway, L.; Mitchell, C.; Sheean, F. Information and communication technology (ICT) use in child and family nursing: What do we know and where to now? Nurse 2011, 40, 118–129.
  6. National eHealth Strategy Toolkit; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzeland, 2012.
  7. Yu, S.; Chen, I.J.; Yang, K.-F.; Wang, T.-F.; Yen, L.-L. A feasibility study on the adoption of e-learning for public health nurse continuing education in Taiwan. Nurse Educat. Today, 2007, 27, 755–761.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

4404 KiB  
Article
Modeling the Construct of an Expert Evidence-Adaptive Knowledge Base for a Pressure Injury Clinical Decision Support System
by Peck Chui Betty Khong, Leng Noey Lee and Apolino Ilagan Dawang
Informatics 2017, 4(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics4030020 - 12 Jul 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 10305
Abstract
The selection of appropriate wound products for the treatment of pressure injuries is paramount in promoting wound healing. However, nurses find it difficult to decide on the most optimal wound product(s) due to limited live experiences in managing pressure injuries resulting from successfully [...] Read more.
The selection of appropriate wound products for the treatment of pressure injuries is paramount in promoting wound healing. However, nurses find it difficult to decide on the most optimal wound product(s) due to limited live experiences in managing pressure injuries resulting from successfully implemented pressure injury prevention programs. The challenges of effective decision-making in wound treatments by nurses at the point of care are compounded by the yearly release of wide arrays of newly researched wound products into the consumer market. A clinical decision support system for pressure injury (PI-CDSS) was built to facilitate effective decision-making and selection of optimal wound treatments. This paper describes the development of PI-CDSS with an expert knowledge base using an interactive development environment, Blaze Advisor. A conceptual framework using decision-making and decision theory, knowledge representation, and process modelling guided the construct of the PI-CDSS. This expert system has incorporated the practical and relevant decision knowledge of wound experts in assessment and wound treatments in its algorithm. The construct of the PI-CDSS is adaptive, with scalable capabilities for expansion to include other CDSSs and interoperability to interface with other existing clinical and administrative systems. The algorithm was formatively evaluated and tested for usability. The treatment modalities generated after using patient-specific assessment data were found to be consistent with the treatment plan(s) proposed by the wound experts. The overall agreement exceeded 90% between the wound experts and the generated treatment modalities for the choice of wound products, instructions, and alerts. The PI-CDSS serves as a just-in-time wound treatment protocol with suggested clinical actions for nurses, based on the best evidence available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nursing Informatics)
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1882 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Omaha System Prototype Icons for Global Health Literacy
by Karen A. Monsen, Yu Jin Kang, Taylor A. Maki, Annika E. Stromme, Elizabeth G. Weirich, Emily C. Lawrence, Ryan N. Schneider and Barbara E. Martinson
Informatics 2017, 4(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics4020013 - 01 Jun 2017
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 8536
Abstract
Omaha System problem concepts describe a comprehensive, holistic view of health in simple terms that have been represented in a set of prototype icons intended for universal use by consumers and clinicians. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Omaha System prototype [...] Read more.
Omaha System problem concepts describe a comprehensive, holistic view of health in simple terms that have been represented in a set of prototype icons intended for universal use by consumers and clinicians. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Omaha System prototype icons internationally across ten languages through an on-line survey and in-person focus groups. The icons were generally rated above 3 on a scale of 1 to 5 by 1568 survey respondents, with notable exceptions for some of the more abstract concepts. Overall, the icons were rated 3.49 on a scale of 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree, with a range of 3.09 (Japanese language) to 3.88 (Norwegian language). A pattern of differential agreement was noted among respondents from Asiatic languages compared to all other languages. Feedback from survey respondents and focus group participants was used to refine the icons. General themes related to icon development were synthesized from focus group interviews. Further research should continue to refine and evaluate the icons in different languages for international use to support health literacy through visual literacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nursing Informatics)
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697 KiB  
Article
ICNP® R&D Centre Ireland: Defining Requirements for an Intersectoral Digital Landscape
by Pamela Hussey, Melissa Corbally, Daragh Rodger, Anne Kirwan, Elizabeth Adams, Paula Kavanagh and Anne Matthews
Informatics 2017, 4(2), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics4020007 - 08 Apr 2017
Viewed by 9624
Abstract
The apparent speed and impact of creating a global digital landscape for health and social care tells us that the health workforce is playing catch-up with eHealth national programmes. Locating how and where the profession of nursing fits with future models of health [...] Read more.
The apparent speed and impact of creating a global digital landscape for health and social care tells us that the health workforce is playing catch-up with eHealth national programmes. Locating how and where the profession of nursing fits with future models of health service delivery is critical to provide focused engagement for the populations they serve. In 2016, Dublin City University (DCU) School of Nursing and Human Sciences (SNHS) created a research and development centre for International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®) in Ireland. This paper provides a summary of the first year of the centre’s research, describing how the initial activities link to the development of global eHealth policy. A key aspect of service delivery relates to defining care requirements, specifically to support sustainable intersectoral healthcare. Considering how nursing-sensitive language (clinical terminology) is best mapped is necessary to articulate the care requirements and processes to achieve optimal patient outcome. The World Health Organisational Framework for Integrated Care provides a pathway for crystallising the steep learning curve that the profession has currently found itself situated in, to deliver on contemporary digital healthcare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nursing Informatics)
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