Assessment of Informatics Competencies Among Nursing Students in Saudi Arabia (Preprint)

BACKGROUND In response to the increased use of computers and technology in health-care settings and the development of communication technologies, nursing educators are constantly seeking ways to improve the informatics competencies, skills, and knowledge of undergraduate nurses. Indeed, informatics competencies impact quality of care and patient safety. OBJECTIVE We assessed informatics competencies among nursing undergraduates in Saudi Arabia and provided recommendations to improve informatics training for nurses. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 108 female fourth-year undergraduate nurses using the 30-item Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Likert Scale, which evaluated basic computer knowledge and skills, attitudes to clinical informatics, and wireless device skills. Data were collected between October and December 2016, and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The response rate was 100%. Most respondents (98%) were aged 20–22 years. RESULTS All students reported that they used the computer several times a day, and that they had more than 2 years of computer experience. They reported competencies in attitudes to clinical informatics (mean: 4.6 ± 0.71), basic computer knowledge and skills (mean: 4.4 ± 0.69), and wireless device skills (mean: 4.3 ± 0.41). They exhibited least competency in applied computer skills (mean: 4.03 ± 0.9), which include the collection, interpretation, and extraction of patient care data. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the informatics competencies of undergraduate nurses, and reveal how medical technologies and informatics applications can improve their future working experience. Improving informatics competencies will lead to a better, error-free service and a safer environment for patients.