Exploration of nurse-patient interactions when nurses use EPR systems

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An exploration of nurse-patient interactions in acute hospital settings when Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems are used

• IRAS ID

  286630

• Contact name

  Carol Forde-Johnston

• Contact email

  19043400@brookes.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Oxford Brookes University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 8 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems store data for Electronic Health Records. Hospital EPR computer systems are usually operated by nurses on a mobile trolley. The nurse moves into the patient’s vicinity when conducting a nursing round. Elements of nursing care are guided by EPR prompts and checklists. The nurse then documents care delivered on the EPR system.
  
  All NHS hospitals are moving from paper records to digital systems. EPR systems are bought by hospital trusts from a list of national accredited suppliers and systems may be later developed to meet a team’s needs. Nurse leads may or may not be involved in this process. Research exploring the use of EPR and its impact on nursing care is scarce.

  Quality care requires compassionate, open, two-way nurse-patient communication. EPR checklists focus on the completion of tasks that may promote automated and closed nurse-patient interactions. No studies have explored whether EPR checklists help or obstruct the quality of nurse-patient communications. This study will aim to address this gap in research. Future studies need to examine the context in which nursing care is delivered, to establish practices that promote quality nurse-patient interactions. There are no UK studies exploring the use of EPR from patients’ perspectives.

  Study aims to explore:
  • How EPR is used by nurses on a sample of acute hospital wards
  • What is happening when nurses and patients communicate in an acute setting that uses an EPR system

  The study involves:
  • Observations of nurse-patient interactions
  • Patient and nurse interviews after observations
  
  Results will provide an illustration of interactions involving EPR and an explanation of the role and use of EPR.

  There is evidence that person-centred nurse-patient interactions are not always the reality in health care. This study will increase insights to inform future person-centred nursing practices and the development of patient-focused EPR systems.

• REC name

  HSC REC B

• REC reference

  21/NI/0087

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 May 2021

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion