Volume 29, Issue 9-10 pp. 1477-1487
REVIEW

Methods used to examine technology in relation to the quality of nursing work in acute care: A systematic integrative review

Bernice Redley PhD, RN, BN Hons

Corresponding Author

Bernice Redley PhD, RN, BN Hons

Associate Professor

Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Monash Health Partnership, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia

Correspondence

Bernice Redley, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Monash Health Partnership, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic., Australia.

Email: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
Tracy Douglas RN, BN Hons

Tracy Douglas RN, BN Hons

Research Assistant

School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia

Search for more papers by this author
Mari Botti PhD, DipN, BA Melb

Mari Botti PhD, DipN, BA Melb

Professor

Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research – Epworth Healthcare Partnership, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 11 February 2020
Citations: 9

Funding information

This research was in-part funded by a National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC) translating research into practice (TRIP) fellowship for the primary author.

Abstract

Aims and objectives

To systematically locate, assess and synthesise research to describe methods used to examine technology in relation to the quality of nursing work in acute care. Specific objectives were to (a) describe the types of nursing work examined; (b) describe methods used to examine technology in nursing work; (c) identify outcomes used to evaluate technology in relation to the quality of nursing work; and (d) make recommendations for future research.

Background

New technologies can offer numerous benefits to nurses; however, it is challenging to evaluate health information technologies in relation to the quality of nurses' complex day-to-day work.

Design

A systematic integrative review using a five-step process.

Methods

Five databases were searched using search terms “nurs*,” “workload,” “task,” “time.” Data screening, extraction and interpretation were conducted independently by at least two authors and agreement verified by discussion. Data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Of the 41 studies included, most (87.8%, n = 36) examined physical dimensions of nursing work; 31.7% (n = 13) organisational dimensions; 17.1% (n = 8) cognitive dimensions; and only 12.2% (n = 5) emotional dimensions. More than half (58.5%, n = 24) examined only one dimension; one captured all four dimensions. Most frequently examined technologies were electronic medical/health records (36.5%) and electronic medication management (19.5%). Direct observation (58.8%, n = 28) and multiple methods (19.5%, n = 8) were the most common methods; nurse tasks, frequency, duration and time distribution were variables most often measured.

Conclusions

Examinations of technology in nursing work often failed to capture the multiple dimensions of this work nor did they recognise the complexity of day-to-day nursing work in acute care. There is a paucity of literature to inform how and what technology should be measured in relation to the quality of nursing care.

Relevance to clinical practice

The outcomes inform useful research methods to comprehensively examine technology to enhance the quality of complex nursing work.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.