The Effect of Using Mobile Applications on Facilitating Nursing Intervention in Critical Care Units

Abstract:

Background: Mobile applications and cellular phone usage at critical care units have grown exponentially in the recent years with introduction of new communication systems and newer and smaller phone models. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of using mobile application in facilitating nursing intervention in critical care units. Design:. A descriptive exploratory design was utilized to achieve aim of the study. Setting: the study was conducted at critical care units at Bahtem Hospital. Sample: A convenient sample of 50 nurses were included in the study. Tools: Tool I: Structured interviewing questionnaire: included three parts. Part I: Socio demographic characteristics of nurses, Part II: Mobile phone data, Part III: Nurses’ knowledge regarding mobile phone, electromagnetic waves and their effects. Tool II: Observational checklist of nurses’ practices regarding use of mobile and mobile applications at CCU Results: The study results founded that half of studied nurses had satisfactory total knowledge level regarding mobile phone, electromagnetic waves and their effects, while the majority of them were using web services to download medical information and to translate incomprehensible medical terms, were using social media programs to send information to the medical team and were exchanging practical information within private groups (Whats App). Conclusion: there was a high statistically significant correlation between total level of knowledge of the studied nurses and their total practices of using of mobile phones applications at critical care units and there was a statistically significant correlation between total level of knowledge and total practices level. Recommendations: continuous health education about mobile phone applications should be planned to the staff and health care professional, Sharing and participation in the knowledge of the latest modern medical programs that contribute to raising the level of nursing in the health care provided to patients with intensive care.