Researchers from University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science Report on Findings in Clinical Trials Research.(Clinical report)

Fresh data on Clinical Trials Research are presented in the report 'Effects of the implementation of the web-based patient support system on staff's attitudes towards computers and IT use: a randomised controlled trial.' "Utilisation of information technology (IT) in the treatment of people with severe mental health problems is an unknown area in Europe. Use of IT and guiding patients to relevant sources of health information requires that nursing staff have positive attitudes toward computers and accept IT use as a part of daily practises," investigators in Turku, Finland report.

"The aim of the study was to assess the effects of the implementation of a web-based patient support system on staff's attitudes towards computers and IT use on psychiatric wards. Hundred and forty-nine nurses in two psychiatric hospitals in Finland were randomised to two groups to deliver patient education for patients with schizophrenia and psychosis with a web-based system (n=76) or leaflets (n=73). After baseline nurses were followed-up for 18 months after the introduction of the system. The primary outcome was nurses' motivation to utilise computers, and the secondary outcomes were nurses' beliefs in and satisfaction with computers, and use of computer and internet. There were no statistically significant differences between study groups in attitudes towards computers (motivation p=0.936, beliefs p=0.270, satisfaction p=0.462) and internet use (p=0.276). However, nurses' general computer use (p=0.029) increased more in the leaflet group than in the IT intervention group," wrote M. Koivunen and colleagues, University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science.

The researchers concluded: "We can conclude that IT has promise as an alternative method in patient education, as the implementation of the web-based patient support system in daily basis did not have a negative effect on nurses' attitudes towards IT."

Koivunen and colleagues published their study in Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences (Effects of the implementation of the web-based patient support system on staff's attitudes towards computers and IT use: a randomised controlled trial. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2010;24(3):592-9).

For additional information, contact M. Koivunen, University of Turku, Dept. of Nursing Science, Turku, Finland.

Keywords: City:Turku, Country:Finland, Clinical Trial Research, Clinical Trials Research, Computers, Information Technology, Mental Health, Psychiatric, Psychiatry, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Computer Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Computer Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.