1.1 Introduction
The approaches of Nurses towards patient care have changed over time, shifting from the disease model era to the current, scientifically based, and holistic approaches. The majority of a patient's medical care used to be directed towards curing their physical ailment; the psychological and social aspects of their condition received less attention (American Nurses Association, 2009). Nursing care documentation toward patients is an essential and effective tool in health care systems that guarantee communication and continuity of care among medical professionals for improved patient outcomes (Mangare et al., 2016). Implementation of the Nursing care process has economic benefits to a country as it leads to increase in patients' working time and decrease in the cost of health care as a result of patients' reduced hospital stay which is a result of quality health care from nurses (Miskir et al., 2018).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Information and Communication use is now crucial for the delivery of decentralized healthcare in the health care industry, particularly with the recent widespread shift to outpatient care (Thomassen & Jansen 2013: 58). However, since the introduction of digital technology into health care, nurses have been often in opposition, claiming that use of computerised systems prevents them from capturing the real nursing (Darbyshire 2004), distances nurses from patients (O'Keefe-McCarthy 2009: 794) and disrupts the rapport (Adams et al. 2007).
According to advanced learner's dictionary of current English 5th edition, information technology is the study or use of electronic processes for storing information and making it available (IT). Information technology has become a vital component in health care delivery.
Science has since reduced the world to a global village. This is the part and function of information technology. It is a common knowledge that information and communication technology (ICT) has come to facilitate and ease interactivity in health care delivery, Nursing diagnoses and treatment of ailments and disease, precision and accuracy in laboratory experiments, medical records keeping and drug preparation, monitoring of patient's condition among others. Information and communication technology (ICT) is, therefore, vital for efficient discharge of duties in contemporary health institutions. What this means is that Nurses in the contemporary health and health related sectors must be ICT literate and compliance.
The usage of Information and Communication has steadily increased in all life spheres, including economic, social, political and cultural, as well as health care, caring science and nursing. The gradual introduction and further extensive utilization of such technological inventions as personal computer, cell phone and Internet has impacted every aspect of life, making it unimaginable to provide services or even function without them (OECD 2009: 13-14).
The adoption of new technologies is also adversely impacted by a number of technical issues. This could be due, in part, to the fact that Information and Communication (ICT-based) health care systems are rarely created with active input from nurses. As a result, it could appear that nurses are fulfilling the demands of the system rather than the other way around. Implementing the knowledge of health, the change process, learning theories, and the nursing and teaching process, nurses can help patients and their families lead healthier lives. Nurses on their own part, should have emotional appeal for patient teaching as integral function of the nurse. It is only then that their knowledge of patient teaching will affect their behaviour.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Utilization Level of Information and Communication on Patient Care among Nurses.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that, hospitals face challenges like a lack of supplies and an overwhelming amount of work for nurses, which prevent the nursing process from being fully implemented. The primary obstacles to putting the nursing care process into practice, including a shortage of time, money, materials, manpower, and motivation, must be addressed. Nurse workflow should be aligned with integrated systems to promote a high-performing healthcare system. This will free up front-line nursing staff members to focus on planning and communicating care for individual patient issues.
Many African nations have embraced the nursing process approach to patient care; however, its application in clinical settings presents a challenge. Many African nations, including Nigeria, have not done a thorough investigation or documentation of the extent of its application in clinical settings.
Science has since reduced the world to a global village. This is the part and function of information technology. It is a common knowledge that information and communication technology (ICT) has come to facilitate and ease interactivity in health care delivery, Nursing diagnoses and treatment of ailments and disease, precision and accuracy in laboratory experiments, medical records keeping and drug preparation, monitoring of patient's condition among others. Information and communication technology (ICT) is, therefore, vital for efficient discharge of duties in contemporary health institutions.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to determine the level of Information and Communication Utilization on Patient Care among Nurses. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the factors that influence nurses' adoption of information and communication on patient care;
- To ascertain nurses' present levels of information and communication knowledge related to patient care;
- To find out the extent to which information and communication are used by nurses in the study area; and
- To assess nurses' comprehension of the importance of communication and information among nurses in the delivery of patient care.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does nurses' comprehend with the importance of information and communication among nurses in the delivery of patient care?
- Are there factors that influence nurses' adoption of information and communication on patient care?
- What are the present nurses levels of information and communication knowledge related to patient care?
- What is the degree of communication and information use by nurses in the area under review?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant factors that influence nurses' adoption of information and communication on patient care
- H1: There are significant factors that influence nurses' adoption of information and communication on patient care
1.7 Significance of Study
The relevance of this study will help nurses utilizing nursing care plans to communicate the patient's condition and also to other members of the health team in a clear and concise manner. Nurse satisfaction and the patient's perception of the plan of care's value are enhanced when the population-level patient care plan is integrated into the workflow documentation rather than existing as a stand-alone document or task.
Finally, this study will be extremely helpful to other researchers who wish to learn more about it. Non-researchers can also use it to expand on their own research projects. This research adds to the body of knowledge and may help direct future investigations.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Determinant of the Utilization of Information and Communication on Patient Care among Nurses using Enugu State University Teaching Hospital as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this research work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.10 Operational Definition of Terms
Nursing Care Plan:
It is a medical plan that is used in practice to determine each person's unique care needs through a methodical, scientific approach to problem-solving.
Health:
It is the level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental, psychological and social changes with environment.
