Few rural nurses using Internet for health information.

A RECENT study into the use of the Internet as a source of health information by North Island rural practice nurses, GPs and pharmacists has shown that only 12.3 percent of nurses are using online information. This compares to 29.1 percent of GPs and 16.2 percent of pharmacists.

Of the 138 rural practice nurses who returned completed questionnaires (a 47.8 percent response rate) in April 2003, only 17 listed one or more websites they used frequently to access health information. Top of the list were Medscape, Google and the Ministry of Health (see table at right).

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Auckland's Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care and the Institute of Rural Health in Hamilton. Associate professor and lead investigator Ron Janes said the researchers were surprised that so few rural nurses used the Internet for accessing information, suggesting many lacked the access, confidence and/or skills to use this resource. Further research was needed, he said, to identify the barriers for rural nurses using the Internet and what would be required to assist them make better use of it.

Commenting about the results, rural nurse specialist from Karamea in the South Island, Heather Maw, suggested access to computers at work and time constraints would most likely be the main reasons for nurses not using the Internet as widely as the researchers expected. "Most rural nurses I know are run off their feet and would not have the luxury of time to use the computer. Many also don't have computers at work--it all comes down to dollars in the end."

However, Maw expected the number of nurses using the Internet would grow as the amount of information sent electronically increased.

For more information about the study, contact Ron Janes on email: [e-mail].

Notice to members

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* THE THEME for the June issue of Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand is enrolled nurses and education. The issue will include a special education advertising supplement.

WEBSITE NAME                     WEBSITE ADDRESS                  Nu

1. Medscape                      www.medscape.com                  5
2. Google                        www.google.co.nz                  3
3. Ministry of Health NZ         www.moh.govt.nz                   3
4. Diabetes NZ                   www.diabetes.org.nz               2
5. World Health Organisation     www.who.int/health_topics/en      2
6. Australian Heart Foundation   www.heartfoundation.com.au        1
7. AUT Library                   www.aut.ac.nz/library             1
8. Centre for Disease Control    www.cdc.gov                       1
9. E-medicine                    www.emedicine.com                 1
10. Immunisation Advisory        www.imac.auckland.ac.nz           1
    Centre NZ
11. Merck Manual                 www.merck.rom/mrkshared/mmanual   1
                                   /home.jsp
12. MSN Conditions A-Z           http://content.health.msn.com/    1
                                   condition_center
13. National Institute of        http://health.nih.gov             1
    Health
14. New York Emergency Room RN   www.nyerrn.com                    1
15. Nurse Practitioner Update    www.nursingcouncil.org.nz         1
16. NZ Medical Association       www.nzma.org.nz                   1
17. Pharmac                      www.pharmac.govt.nz               1
18. University of Auckland       www2.auckland.ac.nz/lbr           1
    Library
19. West Coast Well Women's      www.wellwomen.orcon.net.nz        1
    Centre

Nu = practice nurses.                                       Total 29

Nineteen websites used frequently by rural North Island practice
nurses.