JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The integration of information systems (ISs) in healthcare and social welfare organizations has brought significant changes in patient and client care. This integration is expected to offer numerous benefits, but at the same time the implementation of health information systems (HISs) and client information systems (CISs) can also introduce added stress due to the increased time and effort required by professionals.

Objective:

To examine whether professional groups and the factors that contribute to successful implementation (participation in information systems development and satisfaction with software providers’ development work) are associated with the well-being of healthcare and social welfare professionals.

Methods:

Data was obtained from three national cross-sectional surveys (N=9,240) which were carried out among Finnish healthcare and social welfare professionals (registered nurses, physicians, and social welfare professionals) in 2020–2021. Self-rated stress and stress related to information systems were used as indicators of well-being. Analyses were conducted using linear and logistic regression analysis.

Results:

Registered nurses were more likely to experience self-rated stress than physicians (OR=-0.47, P>0.001) and social welfare professionals (OR=-0.68, P<0.001). They also had a higher likelihood of stress related to information systems than physicians (b=-011, P<0.001). Stress related to information systems was less prevalent among professionals who did not participate in information systems development work (b=-0.14, P<0.001). Higher satisfaction with software providers’ development work was associated with lower likelihood of self-rated stress (OR=-0,23, P<0.001) and stress related to information systems (b=-0.36, P<0.001). When comparing the professional groups, we found that physicians who were satisfied with software providers’ development work had significantly lower likelihood of stress related to information systems (b=-0.12, P<0.001) compared to registered nurses and social welfare professionals who were satisfied with software providers’ development work.

Conclusions:

Organizations can enhance the well-being of professionals and improve the successful implementation of information systems by providing professionals with tailored support, allocating dedicated time for participation in information system development, and ensuring effective collaboration between professionals and software providers.