Determinants of the Intent to Use a Wireless Technology of a University Hospital Nurses

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate determinants of intent to use a wireless information technology(WIT) of University Hospital Nurses. The independent variables used in the study are usefulness, compatibility, social environment, perceived readiness, technical readiness, organizational readiness and socio-demographic characteristics. The dependent variable is the intent to use a wireless information technology(WIT). The sample used in this study consisted of 297 nurses selected from a university hospital located in Wonju, Gangwon-do, Korea Data were collected with self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results of the study revealed that 5 independent variables of usefulness, compatibility, perceived readiness, technical readiness, and organizational readiness were found to have significant effects on the nurses` intent to use a WIT. As a conclusion, it is important to make organizational, clinical, and technical environment WIT-friendly prior to applying WIT to hospital nurses. In addition, it is also important to provide an education and training for nurses to improve their skill of using WIT and to make the new WIT compatible with the existing nursing information system.