Determining Predominant Factors in Nurses Perception of Barriers for Online Education - Thesis Example

Understanding Nurse’s Perception of Barriers for Online Education Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study in health care context is to understand and have an analysis of various kinds of perceptions regarding the booming technology and how they react towards each kind of changes occurring in the environment. The data analysis is mainly intended to analyze the data provided by the respondents with regard to the questionnaire and the surveys. The data analysis is very essential in identifying the barriers and retrieval factors from learning. Data Analysis: The data analysis is a method of analyzing data by inspecting and researching the available data and ganinig information for research. The data analysis is an important part in retrieving the information and getting the valid results through the information obtained. The data analyses are of many types and they are divided into qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, exploratory analysis and confirmatory analysis of data. Quantitative Analysis: The quantitative research is the planned analyzing and inquiry of the data. The initiative of the quantitative method is the incorporation of mathematical, statistical model and the hypothesis analysis. The quantitative relationship is the main relationship involving empirical methods and mathematical analysis. The analysis is the foundation and is mainly used in the social sciences and anthropology. The main use of quantitative data is in the analysis; the software packages like SPSS are used for the interpretation and analysis of the same. The quantitative data uses the advantage of quantitative variables and they are measurement oriented and based on results. The different tasks involved in them are stating of the hypothesis, initiating the variable and adoption of different kinds of strategic methods. Qualitative Analysis: This method of research is appropriated in several diverse scholarly disciplines. The qualitative design comes across its usage mainly in the research and in the relevance of social sciences. Qualitative researchers intend to collect a thorough understanding of human nature, behavior and adaptation in various situations. The qualitative methods contribute to the decision making. Qualitative methods produce information based on particular case studies, data and hypothesis. They found out how these can affect the research problem by stating the hypothesis and analysis of the same. The methods are very useful for research methods to achieve the goal in the research and are statistically reliable, where they provide the reliable data in research. Qualitative research allows in achieving more insights into the information for gathering intercultural communication, performance attributes and the core competencies involved in the research. Quantitative research involves counting and measuring of events and performing the statistical analysis of a body of numerical data (Smith, 1988). (Matveev, 2002, para.7). In the research point of view, the goal can be achieved as the quantitative methods are much competent in stating the research problem consciously and specifically; they help in knowing the depended and the independent variables and clear information on the same. The data provided are highly reliable so accessing them can be done very easily and the clear information can be retrieved to realize the goals. As the data are objective, it nullifies the descriptive and subjective nature of the same data and information and provides sufficient time for the same. The research proposal can be performed in an eye opening manner so as to accomplish the same. The qualitative research is the more practical data and deals with the information that are unable and knowledgeable in statistical and numeric analysis of the research. It provides data collection, and helps in analyzing and interpreting with ease. The interaction ability among the subjects of research attributes are the key to goal accomplishment. The detailed capability in the technique increases the achievement and contributes in a holistic approach to different phenomenon in the investigation. Measures of central tendency: The measures of central tendency point out to those items which have a tendency to cluster. Such a measure is considered as the most representative figure to cluster for the entire mass of data. Measure of central tendency is also known as the statistical average. “Central tendency is sometimes referred to as elevation because it indicates whether numeric scores are low or high. Although there are numerous indicators of central tendency, we limit our discussion to the three most frequently used statistics: the mode, the median, and the mean. We use these statistics to summarize a distribution whenever its too cumbersome to display in its entirety” (Aneshensel, 2004, p.7). The mean.meridian mode is the most popular averages. The mean also known as the arithmetic average, is the most common measure of central tendency and may be defined as the value which we get by dividing the total of the values of the various given items in a series by the total number of items. Mean = ∑Xi/n =X1+X2+……Xn/n Where: ∑ is the summation Xi is the value of the I th item N is the total number of items. The average age of the nurses taken in the study are: 5+49+88+30/4=172/4 = 43 The race of the population mainly consists of the white/Caucasians which are numbered to 82, followed by the black and the African American of 54, and the analysis was conducted within the nurses who had an experience of 1 year, but the majority of the nurses had an experience of 2 to 5 years. The characteristics of the sample: “A sample size is a small percentage of a population that is used for statistical analysis. The sample size could equal a few hundred, or it could equal a few thousand. It all depends on what characteristics you want that population sample to have, and how accurate you want your results to be” (Ellen, 2010, para.1). The sample in the context among the nurses is 172, the male strength is 14 and the female strength forms to 58. The analysis is done mainly by the questionnaire method where the analysis can be done with ease. The questionnaire had a keen focus on the quality related issues, the evaluation areas including the 32 areas of specific criteria, and the assessment of the criteria was conducted on the 5 point scale. The qualitative questionnaire was close ended and thematic open ended question mainly depended on the barriers to the system and the factors which depend on the sustainability of the certain factors that affect the nursing practice. The instrument: The various instruments used are the SNCEQ, HIS and the Hobbs. The SNCEQ was the questionnaire which was defined as the questionnaire that was self reported and had a keen focus on the IT literacy of the health care professionals and the analysis is much developed due to the observations done. The instrument has five scales which describe the technology applications and participation of the design. (0=none and 4= extensive). The instrument consists of five scales explaining the assessment of the computer peripherals. The various factors showing the nurse’s nature in the computers were known and the items are included on the SNCEQ instrument with validate reasons. The attitudes to the computers where measured and the attitudes were known by the use of the questionnaire and the force that are governing the behavior of the individual, using the expectancy theory. The term motivation is depicted as the firms’ force governing the individual behavior of the staff. The various inclinations are made as per the usage of the information technology application and the one controlled by an external factor. The attitude measurement of the nurses in the hospital consisted of factors like satisfaction, belief and the motivation. The respondent’s views were measured and given a scale from 0 to 4 and indicating the degree of likelihood and the satisfactory levels. The usage of the three ECDL modules are done to analyze the soft skills of the nurses and their attitude, “It is the international standard in end-user computer skills. It provides a practical programme of up-to-date skills and competencies consisting of 7 modules, each validated by a test. It is a high-quality, internationally-recognized certification designed, validated, and approved by international experts.” (What is ECDL/ ICDL? 2010, para.1). Instrument Scale Number Scoring Range of Scores SNCEQ(1994) Using computers for the hospital information 20 12 6 0-4;0= none and 4= extensive 0-80 0-45 0-24 Computer attitude scale Motivation Belief Satisfaction 17 18 21 1-5;1=highly unlikely 5=Likely 17-85 18-90 21-105 ECDL(2004) Usage of computers exclusively and the MS office 23 22 22 Yes/No Barriers to Facilitators of patient support system Using the computer technology and the internet regularly 2 1-5;1= daily 5= not at all 1-5 1-5 The implementing of IT and the usage of them is a topic of discussion in today’s scenario in the health care organizations and the various benefits in the sector. The main aim of study regarding the topic is to better the performances and to accomplish best facilities in the healthcare sector. The participation of staff in the healthcare sector was much useful and they lead to the increased benefits in the organization. 2. Among hospital employed nurses, does a lack of staff confidence in using technology inhibit the use of on-line continuing education? In the present days, the usage of technology for educational purposes and online education has become an inseparable part of most of the careers which include the nursing profession also. Developments in the field of information technology have greatly persuaded the learning among individuals in the nursing profession. “Advances in simulation and technology now offer excellent adjuncts to “live” clinical education, reducing the barriers associated with limited experiences, limited clinical sites, and limited clinical faculty resources. Technology provides efficient, safe and effective alternatives to expand clinical faculty resources” (Krautscheid & Burton, 2003, p.4). It has been recognized that the developments in technology have increased the occasions to develop the excellence and access to nursing teaching. It has also increased opportunities for research in this field. Online learning is a field which is in need of discovery in public health care and also other disciplines. Regardless of the awareness that working specialized persons and aged persons would not be interested to learn through the internet, online learning should not be restricted to younger students and generations. It has to be made available to all categories of individuals so that they are in a position to access various information regarding health care “Careful use of technology in education may well enhance the professions ability to educate nurses for practice, prepare future nurse educators, and advance nursing science in an era when the number of professional nurses, qualified nurse faculty and nurse researchers is well below national need” (Tri-council for nursing: Response to the institute of medicine’s report, 2005, para.1). In order to see to it that the technology be used to the maximum to provide better results, various factors have to be tackled by the people in the nursing field and also by the policy makers. The aim of the nursing profession is to offer protected and better care and to eventually allow patients to accomplish their highest level of wellbeing with respect to their health. Several studies have been carried out and various programs have been implemented by various health organizations in different nations to achieve better empowerment in this field. “In order to use information technology to support health delivery, action to increase access for nurses and remove barriers to use is urgently required” (Eley, et al, n.d, p.2). Educationalists have been confronted with the necessity to use different kinds of methods for providing instructions to the students. The facility of online education has been reducing the geographic restrictions and paving way for getting educated from home itself. In the present era, it has been accepted that Web-enhanced classes offer consistency in learning opportunities, the use of excess time may be reduced and has the ability to develop student motivation and the joy of learning among students. Even though online learning is helpful in various ways, like saving time and breaking down the barriers of lack of access while staying in different geographic areas, there are certain limitations with this regard to the use of the best technologies by the individuals in health-care profession. The limitations include the problems in using the know-how and also the different formats used in online environment. These limitations can be overcome only if several programs like online courses are implemented which are effective and which helps them to use technology in their medical practice. In order to achieve this, the persons who create and promote these programs have to be well aware of the demands in online learning, interests and abilities of prospective students in this field. A well versed knowledge with respect to these aspects can help them to see to it that the courses offered to them are well integrated and has the capacity to reflect the requirements and capacities of the desired individuals in this field. Learning has to be matched to the present PC confidence levels of the learners in order to see to it that the current technical know-how will not become a hindrance while finishing any particular course or training. In addition to these factors, the confidence level to use these technologies has to be boosted by these programs. Overall, the assessing of the ability of the learners in using the technical know-how is an important factor in order to provide better opportunities for the learners and also the health-care professionals. Better technical know-how in the area of health services offers proper delivery of standardized knowledge to infinite number of patients who wish to seek medical assistance. Better health technologies provide proper assistance to various people only if proper principles and suitable theories are framed in order to make them understandable. In the recent years, the knowledge of the value that technical awareness that the various technologies of the PC provides better health care has increased to a great extent. This analysis section seeks to consider the qualitative aspects of nurse’s perceptions of barriers for online education. Broadly speaking, there could be several reasons for nursing professionals to have an adversity towards computer education, including non exposure to computer, lack of typing skills, fear or timidity in handling computers, language inadequacy, and so on. Thus most of the alleged fears or misconceptions arise out of their own inadequacies and not due to online education programs as such. However, the nursing profession has begun to rise to the need for e-learning competencies to maintain and sustain competitive advantages in this critical field of medicine and medical treatment.” Nurses have begun to use online continuing education as a means to maintain competencies within their specialty”. (Understanding nurses perception of barriers for online education: P. 3) While there are many advantages and benefits of e-learning in the context of nursing profession, it is also important that the nursing fraternity is aware of it and take utmost efforts to make good use of e-learning technology that is available to them at all times. There needs to be a robust and seamless bonding between theory and practice, between what the junior nurses and interns have studied during their theoretical class courses and its practical application in real life situations. Unless the nexus between theory and practice is well established and endorsed through e learning, it would cease to have validity and practical value. Similarly, the massive changes introduced through internet and other web-enabled resourced have made this discipline more competitive, cost based and client oriented. While traditional nursing often fails to address modern palliative and counseling sessions which are based on knowledge of e-learning, there is the need for upgrading nurse’s skills and performance through a wider and broader use of technology. It is necessary to consider the outcome of the studies carried out as follows: Serial Analysis Reasons for performing Results Implications Remarks 1. ANOVA Assess differences in GPA between three- nursing groups F (2.47) = 6.81, P is less than .08 The means were not found significant 2. T-tests Comparing treatment group with comparison groups t(23), = 2.435, p is less than .05 Mean differentials are high 3. chi-square A chi- square test found variable significantly different X2, (23), n=80 = 7.65,p is less than .05 Variables are significantly different 4. Correlation Pearson Product Moment correlation The two variables to be significantly related r (59) = .87, p < .05. Both variables are significantly related There are two aspects to this research study. The first is with regard to the attitude of nursing students towards online education, and the second, and perhaps more significant aspect is whether the lack of confidence and perhaps fear on the part of nursing personnel could severely impel or restrict their aptitude and interest in online continuing education. Coming to the first aspect, the attitude of the nursing students towards online education: Nursing students predispositions towards technology may be a factor affecting their use of technology in educational and clinical settings. “A national survey was conducted to collect attitudinal measures toward technology and data on technology instruction to assist educators with developing information technology curricula. Outcomes indicate an overall positive attitude toward technology; however, participants’ reports of formal education in the use of technology applications are low. This shortcoming should be addressed through enhancement of nursing core curriculum” (Maaq, 2006, para.1). Further, it is seen that the statistical methods that have been used in the questionnaire has been the Staggers Nursing Computer Experience Questionnaire. (SNCEQ) Under this system, it is evidenced that “novice-to-expert scale allows nurses to indicate their overall computer experience. Additionally, nurses list reasons, if any, that they might not use computers often” (The staggers nursing computer experience questionnaire, 1994, para.1). Perhaps one of the major deficiencies of the SNCEQ is that it is fundamentally qualitative in its analysis and any error in judgment or the provision of matches could reflect in the final analysis. Further, it relies on Likert Scale, which provides a quantitative analysis for essential qualitative research, just of this kind. Likert Scale does have the limitations seen in response analysis. This could be subject to several interpretations, and certain innate bias and statistical errors are not uncommon. “The five-point scale used here is the most common, but some Likert scales have 4-point response scales, eliminating the not sure/undecided category. Some even have 7-point response scales” (Hall, 2010, para.8). Coming to the discussion of findings, it could be said that under ANOVA, the values that have converged is that F (2.47) = 6.81, P is less than .08. This means that the p value under ANOVA has not been found to be significant and therefore, with a degree of caution it could be said that there are not much differences between the three groups surveyed – student nurses, practicing nurses and professional nurses, perhaps who have not been exposed to computer systems. However, the study does not reveal the setting of this survey and the background of the study. Under such circumstances, the relevance and validity of gained data may be questionable. Coming next to the t-tests, in this study it is revealed that during the comparison of treatment group with the comparison group, mean differentials are high and also statistically significant. This seems to be suggestive of the fact that there are major differences in the data provided, and a clear cut decision could be difficult. It is also possible that this test may not be the most suitable or appropriate one for a research study of this kind. However what needs to be of concern in this case would be in terms of whether they need to be large enough to be medically consequential. Thus, in this case, it is also necessary to consider the total sample population and other impacts and influences which could render it inconsequential despite being statistically relevant. Again, while applying the chi-square test, it is believed that this statistical tool tests the null hypothesis. If p was greater than 0.05, the hypothesis could be accepted, since only a change occurrence could give rise to such a small deviation. However, according to accepted statistical norms of chi square testing, if the p value for the calculated research reports that p is less than 0.05, the hypothesis is rejected. This proves beyond statistical doubt that there are certain other elements besides the chance operation that is influencing it in order to cause such a high divergence. For instance, if the p value is 0.03, there is only 3% chance that deviation is caused by chance element alone. Therefore there may be other elements that have gained currency which needs to be separately investigated. In this case, the research hypothesis that is being tested is whether nurses are positively inclined towards e-learning and also whether their fears of computer (not being used to it) are well, or ill founded. According to the results of chi square test, there are no elements of luck and other factors that come into play. Finally, coming to the Correlation Pearson Product Moment, it could be said that the Pearson correlation is deployed to find correlation between two moving variables. The value for a Pearsons can fall between 0.00 (no correlation) and 1.00 (perfect correlation). Other factors such as group size will determine if the correlation is important. As a matter of fact, correlations above 0.80 are considered on the higher side. In this case, it is seen that p is valued at less than 0.05, and therefore, could be reasonably considered to be correlated. Thus according to Pearson, there are reasons for this hypothesis to have a marked degree of validity. Conclusions: It may be said that in a research study of this genre, it is important to identify and establish the best resource study available. While there may be correlation according to one study, it may be negated by another. Thus either a majority verdict needs to be enforced or the most appropriate tool needs to be selected and deployed to reach a final result. However, practical knowledge on nurses responses and reactions to e-learning seem to be wholly in favor of the fact that in the event they are well trained and provided hands on experience on computer operations, they are able to master these well and thus aid in efficient and reliable health care operational systems in clinical and nursing settings. It is also necessary that a wider population research study may be carried out in order to gain a more holistic and thorough study of this subject. Reference List Aneshensel, C S., (2004). Central tendency, speed and associations. Univariate Analysis, P.7. Retrieved May 14, 2010, from http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:jXaTJ9fJaSEJ:www.ph.ucla.edu/class/chs/chs219/UNIVAR.pdf+how+to+analyse+using+central+tendency&hl=en&gl=in&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgiYW5FMr-mpnL2hL7D4jnN0-BcFHE05hO2DSO23MHxMAFH09Wcu0rOi7RQpf3Z9zDXB9xAc6q9FCFxuhS0XHhDDOaSlFqZKLX1_RfH1DwiglPTl_Qf9EJxRnXmlYwI3EOnrrjk&sig=AHIEtbRIbLCGhia-nM2ccxqwhaJrO_VzrA Eley, R. et al. 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