Abstract
Background
Improving healthcare professionals' digital health competence is critical to providing safer care. However, there is still a lack of empirical studies exploring the factors influencing healthcare professionals' digital health competence, even though significant investments have been made to advance digitalisation of healthcare globally.
Aim
This study aimed to identify the key characteristics influencing healthcare professionals' digital health competence.
Methods
Cross-sectional data was collected from 252 healthcare professionals using two instruments measuring the digital health competences and the associated educational and organisational factors in 2024 via an online and paper-based survey. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the key characteristics influencing digital health competence.
Results
Higher levels of education, working in a hospital, more professional experience, and increased use of digital solutions at work or during free time were associated with higher digital health competence. Higher qualifications were linked to greater digital health competence across several factors, with postgraduate degrees increasing health-related counselling competence and undergraduate degrees enhancing work-related attitudes and evaluating digital solutions. Professionals with university qualifications and those working in hospital settings showed higher ICT competence, while more years of professional experience increased ethical competence in using digital solutions.
Conclusions
Digital health competence development should prioritise healthcare professionals with lower educational levels. Additionally, such initiatives should include supporting those who work in non-hospital settings, have less professional experience, and use digital solutions less frequently at work or in their free time. Professional experience increases ethical competence in using digital solutions. Continuous professional development interventions and organisational policies should consider these factors to improve healthcare professionals' digital health competences.
Improving healthcare professionals' digital health competence is critical to providing safer care. However, there is still a lack of empirical studies exploring the factors influencing healthcare professionals' digital health competence, even though significant investments have been made to advance digitalisation of healthcare globally.
Aim
This study aimed to identify the key characteristics influencing healthcare professionals' digital health competence.
Methods
Cross-sectional data was collected from 252 healthcare professionals using two instruments measuring the digital health competences and the associated educational and organisational factors in 2024 via an online and paper-based survey. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the key characteristics influencing digital health competence.
Results
Higher levels of education, working in a hospital, more professional experience, and increased use of digital solutions at work or during free time were associated with higher digital health competence. Higher qualifications were linked to greater digital health competence across several factors, with postgraduate degrees increasing health-related counselling competence and undergraduate degrees enhancing work-related attitudes and evaluating digital solutions. Professionals with university qualifications and those working in hospital settings showed higher ICT competence, while more years of professional experience increased ethical competence in using digital solutions.
Conclusions
Digital health competence development should prioritise healthcare professionals with lower educational levels. Additionally, such initiatives should include supporting those who work in non-hospital settings, have less professional experience, and use digital solutions less frequently at work or in their free time. Professional experience increases ethical competence in using digital solutions. Continuous professional development interventions and organisational policies should consider these factors to improve healthcare professionals' digital health competences.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 151922 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Applied Nursing Research |
| Volume | 82 |
| Early online date | 8 Feb 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2025 |
Keywords
- Digital health
- Healthcare
- Competence
- Digital solutions
- Survey
- Logistic modelling