title: Effects of technology on nursing care and caring attributes of a sample of Iranian critical care nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between attitudes of critical care nurses about influences of technology and their caring attributes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, firstly the psychometric properties of caring attributes questionnaire, which was developed to examine caring attributes of a sample of international nurses, was refined in a sample of 200 critical care nurses working in educational hospitals of a city in the southwest of Iran. Results of factor analysis with Varimax rotation decreased 60 items of caring attributes to 47 items which loaded under five subscales of caring negation, caring compassionate, caring advocacy, caring essence and caring communication. Secondly, attitudes of these nurses toward influences of technology on nursing care were assessed using a 22-item questionnaire, developed by the study researchers. Finally, the association between scores of caring attributes and attitudes toward influences of technology of this sample was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a positive association between caring attributes and influences of technology among our study nurses. Caring attributes scores were higher in female single nurses. Although caring attributes' scores had decreased along with age and work experience, caring commitment was higher in older more experienced nurses. Furthermore, female nurses had a better attitude toward influences of technology on their care. In contrast, younger and less experienced nurses had negative views on the effects of technology on nursing care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuing education and life-long learning on application of new technological equipment in nursing care and harmonising their use with caring values are necessary for nursing students and registered nurses to ensure delivering a patient-centred care, in a technologically driven environment.
authors.affiliation: Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Razi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Medical - Surgical Nursing, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: Behnaz_bag@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Behnaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bagherian
authors.affiliation: Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Razi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: sabzevariz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabzevari
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Care Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran; Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Electronic address: Mirzaei_t@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tayebeh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Care Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Electronic address: Ravary4776@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062069:Inventions; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013672:Technology / Q000592:standards; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Caring; Caring attributes; Critical care unit; Influences of technology; Intensive care unit