title: The use of electronic devices for communication with colleagues and other healthcare professionals - nursing professionals' perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to describe nursing professionals' experiences of the use of electronic devices for communication with colleagues and other healthcare professionals.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Information and communication technology applications in health care are rapidly expanding, thanks to the fast-growing penetration of the Internet and mobile technology. Communication between professionals in health care is essential for patient safety and quality of care. Implementing new methods for communication among healthcare professionals is important.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was used in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected in spring 2012 using an electronic questionnaire with structured and open-ended questions. The target group comprised the nursing professionals (N = 567, n = 123) in one healthcare district who worked in outpatient clinics in publically funded health care in Finland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nursing professionals use different electronic devices for communication with each other. The most often used method was email, while the least used methods were question-answer programmes and synchronous communication channels on the Internet. Communication using electronic devices was used for practical nursing, improving personnel competences, organizing daily operations and administrative tasks. Electronic devices may speed up the management of patient data, improve staff cooperation and competence and make more effective use of working time. The obstacles were concern about information security, lack of technical skills, unworkable technology and decreasing social interaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our findings, despite the obstacles related to use of information technology, the use of electronic devices to support communication among healthcare professionals appears to be useful.
authors.affiliation: Satakunta Hospital District / University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, Pori, Finland.
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koivunen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niemi
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hupli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009726:Nurses; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards
keywords: communication; electronic device; information and communication technology; nursing personnel