Nurses’ use of online health information in medical wards

Abstract

The findings of this study highlight that while online resources add to education opportunities, the ongoing nursing assessment required to determine online information needs is not always incorporated into nursing practice. Patient misunderstandings of online material were also identified; developing patient competency in evaluating open access health information should now be recognized as an integral aspect of illness management education.

Nursing students' use of Internet and Computer for their Education in the College of Nursing

“…There was a significant association between assessing patients use and awareness of patient misconceptions. The conclusions of the Gilmour et al [2] study was that the findings highlight that while online resources add to education opportunities, the ongoing nursing assessment required to determine online information needs is not always incorporated into nursing practice. Patient misunderstandings of online material were also identified and it must be admitted that assessing the patients' understanding of as well as the relevance of the information which patients' retrieved from Internet is time consuming in the current setting of busy wards where the patient turnover is rapid.…”

“…Gilmour et al [2] found that online health information is commonly used by patients with chronic illness to support their education needs. Nurses have a critical role in assisting patients to access and use this information.…”

“…Nurses have a critical role in assisting patients to access and use this information. Gilmour et al [2] continue that their descriptive cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 540 nurses employed in medical wards was carried out in 2009. The response rate was 58% (sample size 293) and most respondents (78%) were satisfied with work Internet access and 52% believed that the use of online information improved care delivery.…”

“…Nurses need to obtain Internet skills not only for their studies but to help patients to find relevant information for their health related questions. Nurses working in health care settings play a crucial educative role with patients who increasingly access Internet sources of health information to guide health management decisions [2]. Nurses as well as nursing students need to be knowledgeable about online health information resources and be able to evaluate relevant information online in order to assist patients and patients' families' to access reliable and relevant information.…”

Decision support in addiction: The development of an e-health tool to assess and prevent risk of fatal overdose. The ORION Project

“…Whereas patients may feel justified in stating their difficulties it may not be quite so easy for staff to voice concerns over the use of such tools for fear of criticism and lack of motivation for a Page 13 of 37 14 new potentially valuable aid to clinical care. Some evidence suggests that staff were aware (50%) that service users do check information about their condition and status on the internet but failed to check (24% only) whether the patient consulted online information [49]. 4.…”