Knowledge, beliefs and motivation as predictors of computer use satisfaction

Computer Information Systems (CIS) continue to be introduced in healthcare facilities around the world with the distinct purpose of improving patient care documentation. No matter how the introduction of the system was planned, often times the execution of the system did not include input from the users. Many nurses lack the skill and knowledge to utilize these programs and therefore may feel threatened, fearful and display anxiety at the thought of being exposed to computer technology (Getty, Ryan, Ekins, 1999). The purpose of the study is to examine nurses' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs related to computer information system use in the hospital setting. The theoretical framework used for evaluating nursing knowledge and attitude is Vroom's expectancy theory. The model explores three constructs of an attitude: satisfaction defined as a preference of an outcome, belief defined as a certain act will be followed by the preferred outcome, and motivation defined as the force to perform the act. Various descriptive designs are used, all seeking to identify both negative and positive predictors of computer use satisfaction. Thorough education, training and ongoing support can lead to increased satisfaction and motivation for using computer systems.School of NursingThesis (M.S.