Practice nurses and computing: some evidence on utilization, training, and attitudes to computer use

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Abstract
Seventy-seven practice nurses in the Portsmouth and Worcestershire areas were surveyed by postal questionnaire about their experience with, and attitudes to, using computers in general practice nursing. Almost all (98%) of the respondents worked in a computerized general practice and all reported having a positive attitude towards the clinical and administrative use of computers. Some 84% of practice nurses had a computer terminal where they saw patients and over 70% used the computer to gain access to clinical information. However, over three-quarters (79%) of respondents felt that their training on computers was either missing or inadequate. Some 74% of the nurses surveyed who were in post when the computers were introduced to their practice were either hardly consulted prior to installation, or not at all. Despite positive feelings about computerization, practice nurses appear to be getting insufficient or inadequate training and support to fully utilize the technology.