The confidence and competence of community nurses in using information and communications technology and in accessing clinical evidence through electronic libraries and databases

Introduction Little is known about the confidence and competence of community nurses in using information and communications technology. This survey set out to explore this issue. Method A questionnaire survey was sent out in the latter half of 2001 to all community nurses in a London community trust. The questionnaire also provided the opportunity for free-text comments. Results In total, 402 community nurses received questionnaires and 106 (26%) responded. Over half of the respondents felt they were not confident to use email and only just under half the Internet. Nearly a quarter lacked either the skills to use a keyboard or mouse. Less than 10% felt confident or very confident to use online sources of evidence. Conclusions Even taking into account the low response rate, a large proportion of community nurses lack the confidence and basic competencies to enable them to function effectively in a health service pledged to electronic operation by 2005