Computing knowledge, attitude and skills among healthcare professionals in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Health care professionals can no longer ignore the application of information technology to health care. This study was carried out to assess computing knowledge, attitude and skills among health care professionals and identify associated factors.

METHODS

A cross section of 200 health care professionals- consisting of 64 doctors, 90 nurses, 35 laboratory scientists and 11 pharmacists in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital were interviewed using a pre-tested, structured, closed-ended self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

Only 181 (90.5%) of the respondents returned the completed questionnaires. Twenty six percent of the respondents had formal computer training whereas 34.8% owned a personal computer. Overall, 84 (46.4%) of the respondents had good knowledge of computing. Specifically, 41(66.0%), 5 (50.0%), 14 (51.0%) and 24 (30.0%) of these were doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and nurses respectively. Computing knowledge was highest among doctors and lowest among nurses. These differences were statistically significant (chi2 = 19.1 df = 3 P < 0.01). Age, gender, computer ownership and formal computer training significantly influenced computing knowledge. Most healthcare professionals 160 (88.4%) had positive attitude towards computing and this was significantly influenced by respondent's age and previous computer training. Only 41 (22.7%) of the health care professionals had good computing skills and this was significantly associated with computer ownership (P < 0.01) and formal computer training (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Half of the healthcare professionals had good computing knowledge, majority had a positive attitude while many were quite deficient in computer skills. Computer loans and in-house computing courses were recommended to prepare our healthcare professionals for the challenges of the information technology age.