The effects of digitalization on the work environment of nurses (DISA)

The functioning or malfunctioning of the ICT tools of health personnel has a direct influence both on the quality of care and the quality of the personnel’s working environment on short and long term. The aim of the project is to create a framework for decision support when new ICT solutions are to be implemented in healthcare, in particular to facilitate nurses’ work.

The project has two work packages, which investigate the experiences and perceptions of digitalization by nurses and other stakeholders, respectively. Other stakeholders include politicians responsible for healthcare, healthcare managers, ICT system developers and patients. The main research question is how digitalisation has influenced nurses’ stress and wellbeing, their control over their work situation and communication with patients and the quality of health care services. This question will be researched keeping the gendering of the healthcare organization as well as the gendering of technology in mind. The empirical material will be collected by interviews, participant observation and surveys.

The project group is transdisciplinary. The researchers have extensive experience of work life studies, human-computer interaction and gender studies. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Uppsala County Council and its nurses, managers and IT staff.

Funded by Forte 2017-2019

PI: Åsa Cajander
Project members: Lars Oestreicher, Diane Golay, Ida Löscher, Gerolf Nauwerck, Thomas Lind and Minna Salminen-Karlsson