Transforming nursing care: The impact of information and communication technologies
Abstract
Background: The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in healthcare, termed eHealth, is transforming nursing practices. These technologies encompass electronic health records (EHRs), computerized decision support systems (CDSSs), and telehealth, among others, and promise to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and communication in nursing care. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the impact of ICTs on nursing practices, focusing on their influence on nursing care performance indicators and patient outcomes. Methods: An overview of systematic reviews was conducted, adhering to the Cochrane Collaboration methodology and the PICOS framework. The study included qualitative, mixed-method, and quantitative reviews from 1995 onwards, focusing on the impact of ICTs on nursing care. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using the AMSTAR tool, and a narrative synthesis approach was employed due to study heterogeneity. Results: Of 6187 titles screened, 22 reviews met the inclusion criteria. ICTs were found to impact time management, patient care, and documentation quality. Positive effects included improved access to patient information and enhanced communication. However, challenges such as increased documentation time and the need for adaptation to electronic systems were noted.
Downloads
References
Eng T. The e-Health Landscape: A Terrain Map of Emerging Information and Communication Technologies in Health and Health Care. Princeton, NJ: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 2001.
World Health Organization. 2016. e-Health URL: http://www.who.int/topics/ehealth/en/
Carrington JM, Tiase VL. Nursing informatics year in review. Nurs Adm Q 2013;37(2):136-143. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies press; 2011.
Monteiro AP. Cyborgs, biotechnologies, and informatics in health care - new paradigms in nursing sciences. Nurs Philos 2016 Jan;17(1):19-27. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Mair F, May C, Murray E, Finch T, Anderson G, O'Donnell C, et al. NETSCC. 2009. Understanding the implementation and integration of e-Health services URL: http://www.netscc.ac.uk/hsdr/files/project/SDO_FR_08-1602-135_V01.pdf
Sullivan DH. Technological advances in nursing care delivery. Nurs Clin North Am 2015 Dec;50(4):663-677. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Kossman SP, Scheidenhelm SL. Nurses' perceptions of the impact of electronic health records on work and patient outcomes. Comput Inform Nurs 2008;26(2):69-77. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Nagel DA, Penner JL. Conceptualizing telehealth in nursing practice: advancing a conceptual model to fill a virtual gap. J Holist Nurs 2016 Mar;34(1):91-104. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Barrett D. The role of telemonitoring in caring for older people with long-term conditions. Nurs Older People 2012 Sep;24(7):21-25. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Greenberg ME. A comprehensive model of the process of telephone nursing. J Adv Nurs 2009 Dec;65(12):2621-2629. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Purc-Stephenson RJ, Thrasher C. Nurses' experiences with telephone triage and advice: a meta-ethnography. J Adv Nurs 2010 Mar;66(3):482-494. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Romero YM, Angelo M, Muñoz GL. Imaginative construction of care: the nursing professional experience in a remote care service. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 2012;20(4):693-700 [FREE Full text] [Medline]
de Veer AJ, Fleuren MA, Bekkema N, Francke AL. Successful implementation of new technologies in nursing care: a questionnaire survey of nurse-users. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2011;11:67 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Stevenson JE, Nilsson GC, Petersson GI, Johansson PE. Nurses' experience of using electronic patient records in everyday practice in acute/inpatient ward settings: a literature review. Health Informatics J 2010 Mar;16(1):63-72. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Urquhart C, Currell R, Grant MJ, Hardiker NR. Nursing record systems: effects on nursing practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009 Jan 21(1):CD002099. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Anderson JA, Willson P. Clinical decision support systems in nursing: synthesis of the science for evidence-based practice. Comput Inform Nurs 2008;26(3):151-158. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Dubois C, D'Amour D, Pomey M, Girard F, Brault I. Conceptualizing performance of nursing care as a prerequisite for better measurement: a systematic and interpretive review. BMC Nurs 2013 Mar 07;12:7 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Smith V, Devane D, Begley CM, Clarke M. Methodology in conducting a systematic review of systematic reviews of healthcare interventions. BMC Med Res Methodol 2011;11(1):15 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Reid P, Grossman JH, Fanjiang G. Building a better delivery system: a new engineering/health care partnership. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2005.
Donabedian A. Models for organizing the delivery of personal health services criteria for evaluating them. Milbank Mem Fund Q 1972;50(4):103-154.
Parsons T. Structure and Process in Modern Societies. New York, NY: Free Press; 1960.
Rapin J, D'Amour D, Dubois C. Indicators for evaluating the performance and quality of care of ambulatory care nurses. Nurs Res Pract 2015;2015:861239 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
VanFosson CA, Jones TL, Yoder LH. Unfinished nursing care: an important performance measure for nursing care systems. Nurs Outlook 2016;64(2):124-136. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Rouleau G, Gagnon M, Côté J. Impact of information and communication technologies on nursing care: an overview of systematic reviews (protocol). Syst Rev 2015 May 23;4:75
Becker L, Oxman A. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2011. Chapter 22: Overviews of reviews URL: http://handbook.cochrane.org/chapter_22/22_overviews_of_reviews.htm
Worswick J, Wayne SC, Bennett R, Fiander M, Mayhew A, Weir MC, et al. Improving quality of care for persons with diabetes: an overview of systematic reviews - what does the evidence tell us? Syst Rev 2013;2:26 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
O'Connor D, Green S, Higgins J. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2011. Chapter 5: Defining the review question and developing criteria for including studies URL: http://handbook.cochrane.org/chapter_5/5_defining_the_review_question_and_developing_criteria_for.htm
Centre for reviews dissemination. 2009. Systematic reviews: CRD's guidance for undertaking reviews in health care URL: https://www.york.ac.uk/media/crd/Systematic_Reviews.pdf
Bashshur RL, Shannon GW, Krupinski EA, Grigsby J, Kvedar JC, Weinstein RS, et al. National telemedicine initiatives: essential to healthcare reform. Telemed J E Health 2009;15(6):600-610. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Gagnon M, Desmartis M, Labrecque M, Car J, Pagliari C, Pluye P, et al. Systematic review of factors influencing the adoption of information and communication technologies by healthcare professionals. J Med Syst 2012 Feb;36(1):241-277
D'Amour D, Dubois C, Déry J, Clarke S, Tchouaket E, Blais R, et al. Measuring actual scope of nursing practice: a new tool for nurse leaders. J Nurs Adm 2012 May;42(5):248-255.
Shea BJ, Grimshaw JM, Wells GA, Boers M, Andersson N, Hamel C, et al. Development of AMSTAR: a measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews. BMC Med Res Methodol 2007;7:10
Shea BJ, Hamel C, Wells GA, Bouter LM, Kristjansson E, Grimshaw J, et al. AMSTAR is a reliable and valid measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews. J Clin Epidemiol 2009 Oct;62(10):1013-1020. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Weir MC, Ryan R, Mayhew A, Worswick J, Santesso N, Lowe D, et al. The Rx for change database: a first-in-class tool for optimal prescribing and medicines use. Implement Sci 2010;5:89 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Sharif MO, Janjua-Sharif FN, Sharif FN, Ali H, Ahmed F. Systematic reviews explained: AMSTAR-how to tell the good from the bad and the ugly. Oral Health Dent Manag 2013 Mar;12(1):9-16. [Medline]
Lunny C, Brennan SE, McDonald S, McKenzie JE. Evidence map of studies evaluating methods for conducting, interpreting and reporting overviews of systematic reviews of interventions: rationale and design. Syst Rev 2016 Jan 06;5:4 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Pieper D, Buechter R, Jerinic P, Eikermann M. Overviews of reviews often have limited rigor: a systematic review. J Clin Epidemiol 2012 Dec;65(12):1267-1273. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Popay J, Roberts H, Sowden A. Lancaster. 2006. Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews: final report URL: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/shm/research/nssr/research/dissemination/publications.php
Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gøtzsche PC, Ioannidis JP, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med 2009 Jul 21;6(7):e1000100 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Finkelstein J, Knight A, Marinopoulos S, Gibbons MC, Berger Z, Aboumatar H, et al. Enabling patient-centered care through health information technology. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep) 2012 Jun(206):1-1531. [Medline]
Free C, Phillips G, Watson L, Galli L, Felix L, Edwards P, et al. The effectiveness of mobile-health technologies to improve health care service delivery processes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med 2013 Jan;10(1):e1001363
McKibbon KA, Lokker C, Handler SM, Dolovich LR, Holbrook AM, O'Reilly D, et al. Enabling medication management through health information technology (Health IT). Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep) 2011 Apr(201):1-951. [Medline]
Bowles KH, Baugh AC. Applying research evidence to optimize telehomecare. J Cardiovasc Nurs 2007;22(1):5-15
Kitsiou S, Paré G, Jaana M. Effects of home telemonitoring interventions on patients with chronic heart failure: an overview of systematic reviews. J Med Internet Res 2015;17(3):e63
Lewin S, Glenton C, Munthe-Kaas H, Carlsen B, Colvin CJ, Gülmezoglu M, et al. Using qualitative evidence in decision making for health and social interventions: an approach to assess confidence in findings from qualitative evidence syntheses (GRADE-CERQual). PLoS Med 2015 Oct;12(10):e1001895
Mador RL, Shaw NT. The impact of a Critical Care Information System (CCIS) on time spent charting and in direct patient care by staff in the ICU: a review of the literature. Int J Med Inform 2009 Jul;78(7):435-445. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Nieuwlaat R, Connolly SJ, Mackay JA, Weise-Kelly L, Navarro T, Wilczynski NL, CCDSS Systematic Review Team. Computerized clinical decision support systems for therapeutic drug monitoring and dosing: a decision-maker-researcher partnership systematic review. Implement Sci 2011;6:90 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Mickan S, Atherton H, Roberts NW, Heneghan C, Tilson JK. Use of handheld computers in clinical practice: a systematic review. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2014;14:56
Randell R, Mitchell N, Dowding D, Cullum N, Thompson C. Effects of computerized decision support systems on nursing performance and patient outcomes: a systematic review. J Health Serv Res Policy 2007 Oct;12(4):242-249. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Georgiou A, Prgomet M, Paoloni R, Creswick N, Hordern A, Walter S, et al. The effect of computerized provider order entry systems on clinical care and work processes in emergency departments: a systematic review of the quantitative literature. Ann Emerg Med 2013 Jun;61(6):644-653.e16. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Dowding D, Randell R, Gardner P, Fitzpatrick G, Dykes P, Favela J, et al. Dashboards for improving patient care: review of the literature. Int J Med Inform 2015 Feb;84(2):87-100.
Poissant L, Pereira J, Tamblyn R, Kawasumi Y. The impact of electronic health records on time efficiency of physicians and nurses: a systematic review. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2005 Oct;12(5):505-516 [FREE Full text] [CrossRef] [Medline]
Husebø Anne Marie Lunde AML, Storm M. Virtual visits in home health care for older adults. The Scientific World Journal 2014;2014:689873
Jones JF, Brennan PF. Telehealth interventions to improve clinical nursing of elders. Annu Rev Nurs Res 2002;20:293-322. [Medline]
Meißner A, Schnepp W. Staff experiences within the implementation of computer-based nursing records in residential aged care facilities: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2014;14:54
Mäenpää T, Suominen T, Asikainen P, Maass M, Rostila I. The outcomes of regional healthcare information systems in health care: a review of the research literature. Int J Med Inform 2009 Nov;78(11):757-771.
Nguyen L, Bellucci E, Nguyen LT. Electronic health records implementation: an evaluation of information system impact and contingency factors. Int J Med Inform 2014 Nov;83(11):779-796.
Bartoli L, Zanaboni P, Masella C, Ursini N. Systematic review of telemedicine services for patients affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Telemed J E Health 2009 Nov;15(9):877-883. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Kelley TF, Brandon DH, Docherty SL. Electronic nursing documentation as a strategy to improve quality of patient care. J Nurs Scholarsh 2011 Jun;43(2):154-162. [CrossRef] [Medline]
Darbyshire P. 'Rage against the machine?': nurses' and midwives' experiences of using computerized patient information systems for clinical information. J Clin Nurs 2006 Feb;13(1):17-25.
Gagnon M, Pollender H, Trépanier A, Duplàa E, Ly BA. Supporting health professionals through information and communication technologies: a systematic review of the effects of information and communication technologies on recruitment and retention. Telemed J E Health 2011 May;17(4):269-274.
Gagnon M, Breton E, Paré G, Courcy F, Côté J, Trépanier A, et al. [The impact of information and communication technologies on nurse retention]. Sante Publique 2013;25(3):305-313.
Aiken LH, Clarke SP, Sloane DM. Hospital restructuring: does it adversely affect care and outcomes? J Health Hum Serv Adm 2001;23(4):416-442. [Medline]
Sidani S, Doran DM, Mitchell PH. A theory-driven approach to evaluating quality of nursing care. J Nurs Scholarsh 2004;36(1):60-65. [Medline]
Lake ET. Development of the practice environment scale of the nursing work index. Res Nurs Health 2002 Jun;25(3):176-188.
Dubois C, D'Amour D, Brault I. Indicateurs prioritaires pour évaluer la contribution infirmière à la qualité des soins : revue systématique des écrits. Montréal: Secrétariat international des infirmières et infirmiers de l'espace francophone (SIDIIEF); 2015.
Agboola SO, Ju W, Elfiky A, Kvedar JC, Jethwani K. The effect of technology-based interventions on pain, depression, and quality of life in patients with cancer: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Med Internet Res 2015;17(3):e65
Lima IC, Galvão MTG, Alexandre HO, Lima FET, Araújo TL. Information and communication technologies for adherence to antiretroviral treatment in adults with HIV/AIDS. Int J Med Inform 2016 Aug;92:54-61.
Singh TP, Vangaveti VN, Kennedy RL, Malabu UH. Role of telehealth in diabetic foot ulcer management - a systematic review. Aust J Rural Health 2016 Aug;24(4):224-229.
Raaijmakers LC, Pouwels S, Berghuis KA, Nienhuijs SW. Technology-based interventions in the treatment of overweight and obesity: a systematic review. Appetite 2015 Dec;95:138-151.
Cheung A, Weir M, Mayhew A, Kozloff N, Brown K, Grimshaw J. Overview of systematic reviews of the effectiveness of reminders in improving healthcare professional behavior. Syst Rev 2012;1:36
Gephart S, Carrington JM, Finley B. A systematic review of nurses' experiences with unintended consequences when using the electronic health record. Nurs Adm Q 2015;39(4):345-356.
McGinn CA, Grenier S, Duplantie J, Shaw N, Sicotte C, Mathieu L, et al. Comparison of user groups' perspectives of barriers and facilitators to implementing electronic health records: a systematic review. BMC Med 2011;9:46
Young LB, Chan PS, Cram P. Staff acceptance of tele-ICU coverage: a systematic review. Chest 2011 Feb;139(2):279-288
Recio‐Saucedo, A., Dall'Ora, C., Maruotti, A., Ball, J., Briggs, J., Meredith, P., ... & Griffiths, P. (2018). What impact does nursing care left undone have on patient outcomes? Review of the literature. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(11-12), 2248-2259.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Articles published in the International Journal of Health Sciences (IJHS) are available under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Authors retain copyright in their work and grant IJHS right of first publication under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Users have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles in this journal, and to use them for any other lawful purpose.
Articles published in IJHS can be copied, communicated and shared in their published form for non-commercial purposes provided full attribution is given to the author and the journal. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
This copyright notice applies to articles published in IJHS volumes 4 onwards. Please read about the copyright notices for previous volumes under Journal History.