Do Beliefs About Hospital Technologies Predict Nurses' Perceptions of Quality of Care? A Study of Task-Technology Fit in Two Pediatric Hospitals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that nurses' beliefs about the technology they use in practice would affect their perception of individual and unit quality of care. A survey was administered to 347 pediatric nurses (response rate = 57.3%) from two academic freestanding pediatric hospitals in the United States. Two separate equations were constructed; one tested whether technology beliefs affected perceived individual quality of care, and the other tested whether technology beliefs affected perceived quality of care provided by the nursing unit. Nurse confidence in their ability to use computer technology and their beliefs that the technologies fit task requirements were significant predictors of nurse beliefs that they and their unit were able to provide quality care to their patients.

This study was funded by a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (R01 HS013610, Karsh PI). A portion of this article was presented at the 12th International Conference on Human–Computer Interaction in Beijing, PR China. We thank Kathleen Murkowski, RN, Neal Patel, MD, Theresa Shalaby, RN, and Rainu Kaushal, MD, for their help with data collection and coordination. Karsh, Holden, Escoto, and Alper also thank Professor Michael Smith for all of his inspiration, mentorship, leadership, and guidance. Thank you, Professor.