In this section, questions sent in by readers and visitors to the main Nursing Informatics web site are featured. I encourage you to ask
questions that you would like to see printed in subsequent issues of this ezine. Go to www.nursing-informatics.com/contact.html to submit yours!
Q: We are a group of nurses and our capstone research is about nurses attitudes and skills towards computers. We would be very greatful if you could send us some information about the P.A.T.C.H. questionnaire, how did you build it, the methodology and the journal it was published in.
I created the P.A.T.C.H. test (Pretest for Attitudes Toward Computers in Healthcare) for students at Kwantlen University College several years ago. It has been
used by about 700 incoming students. I searched the literature and other taxonomies then asked for student and peer input.
I have not published it in a journal but have presented it at two national conferences. It is basically a tool that I use practically.
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One interesting observation that I've made by using this test, is that the incidence of "cyberphobia" or a fear of using computers appears to be declining. As computers become more powerful and user friendly, nursing students exhibit less fear and frustration as they learn to incorporate various programs and applications into their nursing study and practice.
Q. I find your website very stylish and informative and would be very interested to the book you are currently writing. Will details of it's publication be released on the website?
Yes, the current book I am working on, tentatively entitled: Nursing Informatics Education for the 21st Century will be ready for publication in late 2004. I do indeed intend to pronounce availability on the web site closer to the release date. |
