Are quantitative methods sufficient to show why wards react differently to computer-based nursing documentation?

Abstract

Computer-based documentation of the nursing process is being introduced into hospitals more and more. Frequently, the introduction is followed by an evaluation of positive and negative effects. However, the often-used quantitative evaluation methods cannot fully illuminate the different success factors of computer-based nursing documentation systems. We introduced a computer-based nursing documentation system on four wards of the University Medical Centre of Heidelberg and systematically evaluated its effects in a two-year study. The quantitative analysis of the results showed that the wards reacted differently to the documentation system. In this paper, we will first take a look at the quantitative results of our evaluation study, and will then discuss possible reasons for the detected differences. We will then argue that only qualitative methods can help to fully reveal both expected and unexpected reasons for differences between the wards. Analysing the reasons for the different reactions will help lead to a better understanding of the factors that lead influence the successful introduction of a computer-based nursing documentation system. Both quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis have a role in this information system evaluation.