Files and links (1)
Published Version (Advanced Access)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Bridging the Digital Divide: A Multi-Method Evaluation of Nursing Readiness for Digital Health Technology
Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol.Advanced access
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Aim
The aim of this study was to explore the digital health technology readiness of nurses, nursing students, nurse-academics, and nurses in leadership roles. Workforce digital readiness impacts the adoption of digital health technologies and quality and safety outcomes. This study sought to identify key factors affecting nurses' readiness for specific digital health technologies and provide recommendations to accelerate readiness levels in alignment with rapidly advancing digital health technologies.
Design
Cross-sectional multi-method study.
Methods
An online survey was followed by semi-structured interviews. Survey data (N = 160) were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas qualitative responses (N = 8 interviews, 43 open-ended responses) were thematically analysed.
Results
Participants were confident regarding openness to innovation, reporting highest confidence Levels around telehealth, wearable devices, and information technology. The lowest confidence scores were seen in health smart homes technology, followed by health applications, social media, patient online resources, and EHRs. Four themes were developed from the qualitative interviews including ‘opportunities for efficient ways of working’, ‘digital technology turning experts into novices’, ‘disillusionment between expectation and reality’ and ‘shared responsibility for development of digital expertise’. Open-ended data was focused on the need for comprehensive education, ongoing support, and infrastructure improvements to prepare healthcare professionals for digital health environments.
Conclusions
Notable findings include age-related differences, the need for shared responsibility in workforce preparation, and a link between problem-solving ability and help-seeking.
Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care
Low confidence among nurses around the use of digital health technologies such as electronic health records, in-home monitoring technology, and other wearable technologies could impact adoption readiness. Because patient safety is increasingly and inextricably linked to digital health technologies, nurses must not only be digital health literate but also included in the design and implementation process of these technologies.
Reporting Method
This study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines for the reporting of cross-sectional survey research, and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative (COREQ) research guidelines.
Patient or Public Contribution
Limited patient and public involvement was incorporated, focusing on feedback from digital health researchers and practitioner-academics during the academic peer review process. Their insights informed the clarity and relevance of the survey design and data interpretation, ensuring alignment with real-world workforce development priorities in nursing.
Details
- Title
- Bridging the Digital Divide: A Multi-Method Evaluation of Nursing Readiness for Digital Health Technology
- Authors
- Dana Dermody (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Healthy Ageing Research ClusterDaniel Wadsworth - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Healthy Ageing Research ClusterMay El Haddad - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - NursingRoslyn Prichard - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - NursingAlex Benson - University College LondonTim Benson - University College LondonAlison Craswell - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nursing
- Publication details
- Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- DOI
- 10.1111/jan.70105
- ISSN
- 1365-2648; 0309-2402
- Copyright note
- Journal of Advanced Nursing© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
- Data Availability
- Data are not publicly available due to privacy considerations related to participant consent and data handling procedures.
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Nursing
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991146339002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
36 Record Views