1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
According to advanced learners 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.
Flynn (1998) defines information technology or system as an information system that provides procedures to record and make available information, concerning part of an organization, to assist organization related activities.
According to Davis (1999), information technology refers to sending, processing and receiving information through electronic means or computer. It is a flow of some sort of information carrying commodity in some network.
There are no age limit or position limit in studying information technology. In October, 1999, the Guardian newspaper reported that the British prime Minister Tony Blair took his first tentative step into Information technology. He admitted his incompetence in computer usage. He then attended a two-hour computer training session in a shopping center to be instructed in word-processing, e-mail and the internet (Guardian 25 October 1999). There is need for everybody to become computer literate. This is important because the world has now entered the information age.
1.2 Rationale / Theoretical Framework
This study employs the diffusion of innovation theory. It is a socio-psychological theory propounded by clerk Rogers. Diffusion of innovation theory is concerned with the manner in which a new technological ideas, artifact or technique, or a new use of old one, migrates from creation to use. Obviously, this theory has been useful in studies relating to information and communication technology, especially when it concerns the adoption and use of new technologies.
The Diffusion of innovations theory will provide this study with useful framework in explaining how far the Nurses in Enugu have acquired the knowledge of information technology and their attitude towards the application in Nursing care delivery.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
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.
Nurses should be familiar with relevant ICT applications in health care delivery.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to evaluate the Knowledge and Attitude of Nurses to Information Technology on Nursing Care Delivery. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the current levels of knowledge of information and communication technology among Nurses in Enugu.
- To determine Nurses understanding of the relevance of ICT to Nursing care delivery.
- To ascertain the level of usage of ICT among Nurses in Enugu.
- To find out the factors that are hindering the use of ICT among Nurses in Enugu metropolis.
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:
- What is the level of knowledge of computer facilities among Nurses in Enugu metropolis.
- What is the attitude of Nurses about the relevance of information technology to Nursing care delivery?
- What are the current levels of usage of information technology among Nurses in Enugu metropolis?
- What are the factors militating against Nurses in using information communication technology in Enugu metropolis?
1.6 Significance of the Study
The world has witnessed an information revolution, a combination of massive increase in the world's inventory of information and technical development and means to cope with it. Information technology is the name given to the means of processing and transmitting information.
Information technology is a subject that is very wide. There is hardly no sector of the economy that information technology is not being applied. For example in manufacturing, computers are used to do product design, product packaging. In engineering, computers are used to do different types of designs. In remote sensing and earth observation, satellite is a computer based technology in orbit for data transmission to the ground for interpretation. The world of commerce is far more automated than the actual production of goods. Banking, transportation and distribution of goods are being more transformed by electronics.
The world of commerce is information intensive. It is required that information be made available on goods, their prices, their utility and the modern means for paying for those goods. Microcomputers are now widely used in hospitals and medical practice, medical research and medical decision-making. The new technology offers new hope to the deaf, blind and the disabled. Diagnostic tests and laboratory analysis are quicker and easier.
…
