Summary
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hybrid environments (i.e.
where part of the patient record is paper-based and part of it is electronic) upon
aspects of novice nurse information seeking (i.e. amount of information accessed,
choice of key information sources, type of information and use of information seeking
tactics).
Methods: A within group, laboratory, experimental study was conducted using two simulated
environments (i.e. a paper environment and a hybrid environment). Thirty-five novice
nurses participated in the study.
Results: Findings revealed significant differences between the paper and hybrid environments
in terms of their effects upon aspects of novice nurse information seeking. Subjects
accessed: 1) less information in the hybrid environment than the paper environment,
2) more non-electronic sources of information were accessed by novice nurses in the
hybrid environment, and 3) novice nurses used more passive information seeking tactics
in the hybrid environment than the paper environment. Qualitative findings from the
cued recall data revealed subjects experienced increased cognitive load in the hybrid
environment.
Conclusions: Hybrid environments may affect aspects of novice nurse information seeking. Future
research should explore the effects of hybrid environments upon the information seeking
of other types of health professionals (e.g. physicians, physiotherapists) with differing
levels of expertise (i.e. novice, intermediate and expert).
Keywords
EPR - CPR - EMR - EHR - human factors - hybrid - electronic-paper - environment -
novice - nurse - health professional - information seeking - information needs
