Access as an enabler and an obstacle to nurses' use of ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a national survey 

Abstract
The COVID-19 global pandemic has altered the way people in Aotearoa New Zealand live, work, play, and access healthcare, and this has included an increase in the use of technology. The aim of this exploratory study was to understand Aotearoa New Zealand nurses’ use of technology during the COVID-19 lockdown, in particular what information and communication technologies (ICT) was being used and how nurses felt about using ICT in their practice. An anonymous online survey, utilising both open and closed-ended questions, was selected as an appropriate and safe data collection method during the pandemic. Snowball sampling was used with an online survey that was sent out during the level 3 lockdown (from March to May 2020) via social media and existing email networks and so potentially dispersed to nurses throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. In total 220 responses were received. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics, and open-ended qualitative comments were thematically analysed. The key finding was that there were significant access issues related to nurses using ICT in their practice: Access to information technology systems and resources, access to technical support, access to connectivity (particularly for those working from home in rural communities) and access to patients and colleagues. As predicted, this study has identified areas for future exploration but highlights Aotearoa New Zealand nurse’s ability and willingness to embrace technology to better meet the needs of their patients.

Te Reo Māori translation 

Ngā ariā matua 
Nā te urutā COVID-19 kua rerekē te noho, te mahi, te tākaro, te urutomo ki ngā tautiaki hauora, o te tangata i Aotearoa New Zealand, nā konei kua piki ake te whakamahinga hangarau. Ko te whāinga o tēnei tirohanga kia mārama ki te whakamahinga a ngā tapuhi o Aotearoa i ngā hangarau i ngā rā o te katinga mō COVID-19, arā, he whai kia mārama ko ēhea ngā mōhiotanga me ngā whakawhiti (ICT) e whakamahia ana, he pēhea hoki ngā whakaaro o nga tapuhi mō ICT i tā rātou mahi. I whiria tētehi rangahau tuihono, me te whakamahi tikanga kohi raraunga hāngai, haumaru hoki, i ū rā ki ngā pātai tuwhera me ngā pātai mutu. I whakamahia tētahi tikanga tīkaro pūputu mā tētahi uiuinga tuihono, i tukua atu i roto i te katinga taumata 3 (mai i Poutūterangi/Māehe ki Haratua/Mei 2020) mā ngā paepori me ngā whatunga īmēra kua tū kē, nā reira, i tae atu pea ki ngā tapuhi puta noa i Aotearoa. 220 ngā whakautu i tae mai, huia katoatia. I tātaritia ngā hua nā te whakamahi i ngā tatauranga whakamārama, me i āta tātaritia ngā whakapuaki kounga tuwhera, i runga i ngā kaupapa o roto. Ko te kitenga matua, tērā ētahi take tauārai i ngā tapuhi e whakamahi ana i te ICT i roto i ā rātou mahi: Ko te noho wātea mai o ngā pūnaha me ngā rauemi hangarau mōhiotanga, te noho wātea o ngā tūhono ipurangi (otirā mō te hunga mahi i te kāinga me ngā hapori i te tuawhenua, he mea hira tēnei) me te noho wātea mai o ngā tūroro me ngā hoa. I runga anō i ngā matapae, kua kitea ētahi āhuatanga hei mātai anō i roto i tēnei rangahau, heoi anō ka kitea i roto te kaha me te kaingākau o ngā tapuhi ki te hāpai i te hangarau tika hei manaaki i ā rātou tūroro.  

Keywords / Ngā kupu matua
access to technology / noho wātea ki te hangarau; COVID-19; ICT; technology / hangarau;  nursing / mahi tapuhi