A Sociotechnical Analysis of Staff Nurses' Use of Personal Mobile Phones at Work: Perspectives From the Philippines

• In Event: mHealth

Abstract

Nurses’ use of personal mobiles phones at work is a growing trend in several healthcare organizations. Although recent studies have explored positive and negative implications of nurses’ use of personal mobile phones, none has yet analyzed how the interactions of sociotechnical components (users, technology and policy) influence its use. We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 nurses in the Philippines and analyzed their responses using sociotechnical analysis. Sociotechnical analysis showed that staff nurses used their personal mobile phones at work in various ways as it greatly helps at work but inevitably alter usual routines. Although most of the hospitals have policies that prohibit its use, staff nurses justified its use for work purposes and for their patient’s benefit. Staff nurses also highlighted the absence of a hospital-provided mobile phone as a strong reason to use personal mobile phones at work. Policy recommendations on nurses’ personal mobile use at work were included.

Authors

• John Robert Razote Bautista, Nanyang Technological University

• Trisha T. C. Lin, Nanyang Technological U