Shin, H., Jeon, H., Yusupova, T., Muratbekova, M., Buteshova, S., Karypova, B., Shamilova, A., Choi, S., Matniiazova, & Lee, S. (2023, July 20-23). Development of Information Communication Technology Competency of Nursing in Kyrgyz Republic: A Global Collaborative Study [Oral Presentation]. The 34th International Nursing Research Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Purpose: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in healthcare, including clinical documentation and electronic health records, play essential roles in effective healthcare information management in the highly complex healthcare environments (Kleib, et al, 2022). The government of the Kyrgyz Republic has also actively introduced the ICTs and built an eHealth system in primary and acute healthcare to promote population health status (Laatikainen, et al., 2022). Since nurses have a responsibility for the management and utilization of healthcare information for evidence-based and effective clinical decision-making, it is necessary to develop a concrete or specific understanding of ICT competencies of nurses (Kaihlanen, et al., 2021; Kleib, et al., 2021). This study aims to define ICT competencies of nurses to prepare qualified nurses in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Methods: An explorative sequential mixed methods study design was used. Nurses and nurse mangers in the Kyrgyz republic were eligible for this study. Following the qualitative data collection through the focus group interviews, the survey with an online and offline questionnaire was conducted for collecting quantitative data. The nursing informatics competencies tool developed by Farzandipour et al (2021) was used to explore the current status and perspectives of the ICT competencies of nurses in the Kyrgyz Republic. Qualitative content analysis and Importance-Performance analysis were conducted. Qualitative and quantitative data were compared, analyzed, and integrated through narratives. A Kyrgyz-Korean research team has performed this global collaborative study since April 1, 2022, and this study was performed from June 2022 to November 2022.

Results: Major themes of the ICT competencies among Kyrgyz nurses were 1) becoming computerized in nurses’ documenting, recording, and order communication system, 2) suffering from duplicating records including electronic and handwritten records, 3) seeking for efficient recording system, 4) sticking to a handwritten method, 5) feeling limited but pursuing increased data accessibility and utilization, excellence in the nurses’ role, and recognizing the benefits of patient identification using a computerized work system. In addition, the importance-performance analysis showed that Informatics knowledge (Importance = 1.30± 0.58, Performance = 1.14 ± 0.72) was located in the right upper quadrant meaning high importance and high performance and basic computer skill (Importance = 1.34± 0.61, Performance = 1.09 ± 0.81) was located in the left upper quadrant meaning the high importance and low-performance quadrants. On the other hand, informatics skill (Importance = 1.17 ± 0.66, Performance = 1.04 ± 0.80) was positioned on the left lower quadrant meaning low importance and low performance. 

Conclusion: Globally, innovation with ICTs has strong implications for both the healthcare system and healthcare professionals, especially nurses. Preparing ICT competencies of nurses should not be limited to computer skills, but should be understood as the ability to effectively use them to make better clinical decision making and improve patient safety.