Emergency Nurses' Experiences of Digital Silence: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore emergency department nurses' perceptions and experiences of digital silence. A qualitative study was conducted with 14 emergency department nurses from two public hospitals in Turkey. Data were collected through semistructured in-person interviews and analyzed using the Framework Method for qualitative data analysis. Four overarching themes were identified: (i) awareness of digital silence, (ii) types of digital silence, (iii) causes of digital silence, and (iv) strategies for prevention. Digital silence manifests in several forms, including failure or partial completion of data entry, the use of alternative communication channels in place of official digital systems, and disregard for system alarms or alerts. The reasons underlying digital silence stem from both individual factors and organizational factors. Strategies to reduce digital silence involved training, development of user-friendly systems, establishment of nonpunitive reporting environments, and workload management. The results revealed that digital silence extends beyond individual attitudes, representing a multidimensional phenomenon closely associated with institutional structures, organizational culture, and the design features of digital systems. Enhancing system usability, reinforcing technical infrastructure, and promoting digital literacy were identified as key strategies for reducing digital silence behaviors.