Nurses and the acceptance of innovations in technology-intensive contexts: the need for tailored management strategies

Abstract

Background Several technological innovations have been introduced in healthcare over the years, and their implementation proved crucial in addressing challenges of modern health. Healthcare workers have frequently been called upon to become familiar with technological innovations that pervade every aspect of their profession, changing their working schedule, habits, and daily actions. Purpose An in-depth analysis of the paths towards the acceptance and use of technology may facilitate the crafting and adoption of specific personnel policies taking into consideration definite levers, which appear to be different in relation to the age of nurses. Approach The strength of this study is the application of UTAUT model to analyse the acceptance of innovations by nurses in technology-intensive healthcare contexts. Multidimensional Item Response Theory is applied to identify the main dimensions characterizing the UTAUT model. Paths are tested through two stage regression models and validated using a SEM covariance analysis. Results The age is a moderator for the social influence: social influence, or peer opinion, matters more for young nurse. Conclusion The use of MIRT to identify the most important items for each construct of UTAUT model and an in-depth path analysis helps to identify which factors should be considered a leverage to foster nurses’ acceptance and intention to use new technologies (o technology-intensive devices). Practical implications Young nurses may benefit from the structuring of shifts with the most passionate colleagues (thus exploiting the social influence), the participation in ad hoc training courses (thus exploiting the facilitating conditions), while other nurses could benefit from policies that rely on the stressing of the perception of their expectations or the downsizing of their expectancy of the effort in using new technologies.

Investigation of technophobia level and its related factors among nursing students

“…Also, according to the results of this study, two factors; "the need for high experience and skill to work with technologies" and "the need for a coach while using technologies", are the main factors related to "low self-con dence when dealing with technologies" that increase the technophobia of nursing students. This nding con rms the results of a study [45,46] which states that it is more di cult for nurses who are less con dent in their skills and abilities to face and work with new technology.…”

Digitizing nursing: A theoretical and holistic exploration to understand the adoption and use of digital technologies by nurses

“…This may reflect higher self-reported digital competence among younger HCP which was indicated in a study of 27 UK primary care facilities (Hammerton et al, 2022). A recent Italian study by Barchielli et al (2021) investigating nurses' acceptance of innovations in technology-intensive contexts also supports the hypothesis of age as a key factor in the nursing-technology context. They found that age is a key moderator for social influence and that older nurses appeared to be influenced less by social factors.…”

Bridging Innovation to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study among Critical Care Nurses

“…Furthermore, technology-based innovations can provide new insights for nurses, increase knowledge, and skills in providing nursing interventions. The results of previous studies indicate that with technology-based innovations as well as being innovative and application, it can increase the knowledge and skills of nurses (Asurakkody & Shin, 2018;Barchielli et al, 2021). However, with training related to the use of innovative technology that will be developed, nurses need to equalize perceptions and abilities in using these applications.…”