The association of implementation time, skills, and education with registered nurses evaluation of a client information system and electronic health record

Authors

• Maiju Kyytsönen Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki
• Anu-Marja Kaihlanen Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki
• Ulla-Mari Kinnunen University of Eastern Finland, Department of Health and Social Management, Kuopio
• Kaija Saranto University of Eastern Finland, Department of Health and Social Management, Kuopio
• Tuulikki Vehko Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.137700

Keywords:

information systems, nurses, surveys and questionnaires

Abstract

The electronic health records and client information systems have been under pressure for change in Finnish social welfare and healthcare which continues after the responsibility for organizing social welfare and healthcare services has been taken up by wellbeing service counties. From the perspective of the end-users, the decision to change the main electronic health record and client information system is big and therefore implementing new systems should be executed with care in organizations.

This study focussed on registered nurses’ evaluation of an electronic health record and client information system from the perspective of implementing a new system. The aim of the study was to establish using logistic regression analysis which factors related to background variables, competence, or training (at the workplace) are associated with a good grade given by registered nurses for the electronic health record and client information system and does the implementation time affect the possible detected associations. The study data was based on answers gotten to the Information System Survey of Registered Nurses in Spring 2023 given by 18 to 65-year-old registered nurses.

From the background variables working in inpatient ward of a health and social services centre, community nursing, home hospital, or housing services were associated with a good grade to the electronic health record and client information system. As far as the competence and training factors were concerned, registered nurses, who evaluated their experience as a user of electronic health record and client information system as still insufficient and who had insufficient documentation skills, gave a good grade more rarely. A good grade was also more rarely given by registered nurses who did not think that the support of their colleagues increases their competence as a system user. The implementation time of the electronic health record and client information system affected registered nurses’ evaluation of their primary electronic health record and client information system. When an electronic health record and client information system had been implemented within the last 12 months compared to that the implementation had occurred at least a year ago, the significance of the working environment, experience as a system user, and continuous training were highlighted.

Organizing continuous training can therefore be considered as recommendable so that the electronic health records and client information systems can be harnessed to support the work of registered nurses and good care of clients. After the implementation there is also reason to follow registered nurses’ self-evaluated competence level in documenting into electronic health records and client information systems and generally as system users.