The engagement of nursing and healthcare researchers with digital technologies: lessons learnt in an Australian university

Background: The use of digital technologies has expanded rapidly in recent years, particularly with the onset of COVID-19. Digital technologies have been implemented in nursing and healthcare to support necessary care. 

Aims: This research explored how nursing and healthcare researchers engage with digital technologies, including the types of technologies, facilitators, barriers and suggested improvements to enable engagement. 

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 nursing and healthcare researchers from an Australian University. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analysed using the COREQ checklist.

Results: Four major types of digital technologies were engaged by nursing and healthcare researchers. These included monitoring, intervention, communication and data collection and analysis technologies. The research setting provided the overarching systems and policies that could delay actions or provide necessary supports. Access to experts, good communication, sharing digital technology information, and time and funding were identified as important. 

Conclusion: This research highlights that nursing and healthcare researchers are engaging with digital technologies but there are areas for improvement that are underpinned by the research setting and need to be considered to ensure effective use of digital technologies in nursing and healthcare research.