Nurses’ Perceptions of a Novel Health Information Technology: A Qualitative Study in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a novel health information technology (HIT), a large customizable interactive monitor (LCIM), implemented in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Specifically, we explored nurses’ perceptions of this novel HIT application and its perceived effect on family engagement. We used a qualitative research design to collect and analyze data from 55 PICU nurses in seven focus groups. A trained moderator followed a semi-structured discussion guide with questions related to perceptions, attitudes, and care team interactions with the LCIM. Groups were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using content analysis procedure. Six major themes emerged from the nurse focus groups, which include familiarity and use routines, positive perceptions with the LCIM, negative perceptions with the LCIM, privacy, training, and suggestions for improvement. Insights into nurses’ perceptions of the LCIM have the potential to improve family-centered care.

Acknowledgments

This study would not have been possible without leadership team support. We thank Kathy Murkowski for arranging the interviews with PICU doctors for us. We thank Rich Holden and Chelsea La Berge for their contributions to interview guide development and data collections.

Funding

We acknowledge the financial support provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Grant # 1R21HS023626–01) for this study.

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge the financial support provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Grant # 1R21HS023626–01) for this study.

Notes on contributors

Onur Asan

Onur Asan, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine and has an appointment at the Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin. His research focuses on human factors application in health care and health information technologies.

Kathryn E. Flynn

Kathryn Flynn, PhD, is Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Director of the Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her research focuses on patient decision making and the design and analysis of patient reported outcome measures.

Laila Azam

Laila Azam is a research assistant and doctoral candidate in the Public and Community Health Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Ms. Azam received her BS in Healthcare Administration and MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Matthew C. Scanlon

Matthew Scanlon, MD, CPPS, is Professor of Pediatrics, Critical Care at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. In addition to providing patient care, he studies the impact of technology on health care, as well as how work is done in health care.