PhD Project - An investigation of the use and impact of mobile information and communication technologies on clinical work practices in hospitals
PhD student: Mirela Prgomet
Supervisor: Professor Johanna Westbrook
Co-supervisors: Dr Joanne Callen, Dr Andrew Georgiou
Background:
Mobility is a central feature of healthcare delivery. Clinical work is highly mobile and often conducted in multiple locations with clinicians required to communicate and collaborate with different individuals and to physically move between patients, wards, clinics, operating theatres and offices. As such clinicians require systems that allow them to access information, resources and people where and when work is conducted.
The considerable development in technology, particularly mobile technologies in recent years, has heralded the opportunity to provide clinicians with access to information, resources and people at the right time and place. Substantial investments are being allocated to drive the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) with the premise that they will provide more effective and efficient modes of health care delivery. However, there is limited evidence to guide decisions regarding which types of ICT computing devices are most beneficial.
Aims of research:
- To identify the factors decision makers consider when selecting clinical computing hardware devices for implementation in hospitals wards.
- To assess hospital clinicians usage patterns of different ICT devices and determine what factors impact on device use and preference.
Description of Research:
A multi method design combining qualitative and quantitative methods will be used.
The project will involve interviews with key stakeholders who play a direct and active role in clinical computing device selection decisions or act as consultants who provide advice to decision makers. These will include health department managers or policy-makers, health service ISD managers/representatives and commercial health ICT vendors (hardware and software). Data obtained from these interviews will be synthesized and analysed to enable understanding of the decision making process.
Observations of clinicians will be conducted to assess the use of various computing devices when undertaking clinical tasks. Interviews will allow investigation of the perceptions of clinicians and further understanding of device preferences. Usage patterns will be assessed in terms of which device is used, where the device is used, what task it is used for, and when or in what circumstance is it used (e.g. on ward rounds). This data will allow a rich description of the relationships between clinical roles, device preference, clinical tasks and effects on work practices. It will allow understanding of what will work, for whom, where, and in what circumstances and will aid in assessing the role of mobile technology in supporting work practices.
Significance and outcomes:
Amalgamation of study data will assist in establishing recommendations to aid decision makers in determining ICT implementation needs by informing decision regarding the optimal number, type and placement of clinical computing devices to support mobile work practices and efficient care delivery.