A Study Of Cook Islands Nurses' Attitudes Towards Electronic Medical Records Technology

The Polynesian nurse prided herself on her ability to describe her patient's pain in a one-page hand written note to her doctor. Now, the electronic medical records system was asking her to choose 1 to 10 on a drop down menu scale. This paper analyzed through a series of interviews what it is like for nurses in the remote Cook Islands to use Western-designed medical information systems. Their experiences were examined through the lens of social construction of learning and cultural diffusion. Analysis of qualitative interview data suggested cultural as well as infrastructural barriers to engaged learning. Future researchers are advised to consider Facilitating Factors and Cultural Embeddedness constructs when considering technology adoption attitudes of medical practitioners in remote archipelago.