Training strategy for nursing staff in using computers in hospitals--a Malaysian viewpoint.

The ability of hospitals to fulfil their roles--of information processing and dissemination, and of quality patient care provider--is influenced by the availability of supporting information systems. Using computers in wards, which is a change process, introduces new working practices accompanied by attitudinal and knowledge alterations in the users. This paper suggests that as a practical approach users need to be consulted and assessed prior to the introduction of computers in their work places. A questionnaire survey, the main purpose of which was to determine the potential users' responses and to measure their computer competencies, was sent to 183 nursing staff in several hospitals. Results show that the respondents have slightly positive attitudes towards computers even though 85% of them were computer illiterate. A training strategy is needed to increase competencies and to develop more favourable attitudes, which can be monitored using four training indicators.