Knowledge and Perception of Nursing Informatics among Staff Nurses at Rumailah Hospital, Doha, Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study
TL;DR
Findings highlight enduring needs: targeted education for less‑qualified and more experienced nurses, and integration of NI into student training, and integration of NI into student training remain relevant for digital health transformation in Global South contexts.
Abstract
Introduction: Global healthcare digitalisation requires nurses to embrace nursing informatics (NI). This study assessed NI knowledge and perceptions among staff nurses at Rumailah Hospital, Doha, Qatar. Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling. A modified Nurses’ Attitudes towards Computerisation (NATC) questionnaire captured demographics, NI knowledge, and perceptions. Chi‑square tests (with Cramér’s V effect sizes) examined associations (alpha = 0.05). Data were collected in 2016‑2017. Results: Of 572 nurses (82.8% female, 75.4% aged 20‑30 years), 50% held a basic nursing certificate. Positive perceptions were high: 96.5% agreed NI improved care decisions; 100% agreed NI enhanced research implementation and consistent data recording. However, 38.3% noted NI was not used for student training. Significant associations with perception (p<0.001) were found for gender (χ²=28.73, V=0.23), academic qualification (χ²=102.31, V=0.30), years of experience (χ²=177.17, V=0.33), and ease of use understanding (χ²=30.18, V=0.23). Conclusion: Nurses demonstrated strong positive NI knowledge and perceptions. Despite the age of the dataset, findings highlight enduring needs: targeted education for less‑qualified and more experienced nurses, and integration of NI into student training. These insights remain relevant for digital health transformation in Global South contexts.