Ghanaian nurses' and midwives' perspectives on technology adoption in nursing and midwifery education.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived benefits and challenges of online distance education and computer-based testing (CBT) among registered nurses and midwives in a sample of government-owned health facilities and health training institutions in Ghana. DESIGN: Exploratory descriptive qualitative design. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 participants (i.e. 25 nurses and 20 midwives). The data were manually processed and analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach (November 2019-February 2020). RESULTS: Nurses and midwives prefer online distance education for three reasons: convenience, cost-effectiveness and learning centre proximity to the workplace. The course schedule's flexibility allowed participants to work and study simultaneously. Others acknowledged online distance education as a viable option for overcoming the challenges of obtaining study leave. However, the lack of recognition of certificates by some employers, poor Internet connectivity and perceived excessive course load were noted as deterrents. Regarding the CBT, many of the participants said that it was useful. Among the advantages of CBT are: (1) a decrease in examination malpractices, (2) a decrease in examination costs and (3) a rise in students' interest in information, communication and technology (ICT). This finding emphasizes the necessity of integrating ICT into nursing and midwifery education and examinations, as well as maximizing its benefits.

The Image of Nurses and Midwives in Ghana: Patient and Family Perspectives.

This study aims to explore the perceptions of patients and family caregivers on the image of nurses and midwives in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative exploratory descriptive approach. A total of 25 participants were interviewed during data collection. Content and thematic analysis were applied in the data analysis to develop themes. The findings are captured under two major themes that describe the primary influences on participant images of nurses: Thus, (1) nurses' and midwives' attributes with four subthemes; staff appearance, communication strategies and behaviors, work attitudes, and professional competence and (2) patients' status and subthemes were; uneducated poor and educated rich. We conclude that patients and families in Ghana recognize the professional attributes of the nurse and midwife, which reflect in their personality, grooming, communication, competencies, and attitudes. However, low publicity of the professional roles of nurses and midwives may have negative repercussions for their professional image. A policy to perform a regular public audit on the image of the Nurse/Midwife is important for professional advancement.

Nurses' and midwives' perspectives on participation in national policy development, review and reforms in Ghana: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has admonished member countries to strive towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through actionable health policies and strategies. Nurses and midwives have instrumental roles in achieving UHC via health policy development and implementation. However, there is a paucity of empirical data on nurses and midwives' participation in policy development in Ghana. The current study explored nurses and midwives' participation in policy development, reviews and reforms in Ghana. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was adopted for this study. One-on-one individual interviews were conducted after 30 participants were purposefully selected. Data was audiotaped with permission, transcribed and analyzed inductively using the content analysis procedures. RESULTS: Two main themes emerged from the data: participation in policy development and perspectives on policy reviews and reforms. The findings showed that during health policy development and reviews, nurses in Ghana were overlooked and unacknowledged. Policy reforms regarding bridging the pre-service preparation gap, staff development and motivation mechanisms and influence on admission into nursing schools were raised. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that nurses and midwives are crucial members of the healthcare systems and their inputs in policy development and reviews would improve health delivery in Ghana.