Telehealth and telenursing perception and knowledge among university students of nursing in poland.

OBJECTIVE: Telehealth and telenursing are becoming the new reality in studying nursing. Little is known whether undergraduate nursing students receive adequate education on telenursing for patient care. The aim for this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of nursing students toward telenursing. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Students of nursing faculties from medical universities in Poland were invited to complete a survey about telehealth and telenursing. The survey was conducted utilizing a Web-based surveying platform ( www.mini-ankiety.pl ). RESULTS: We surveyed 308 undergraduate students of nursing faculty-291 females (94%) and 17 males (6%)-from medical universities in Poland. There were 116 students in their first year (course) (38%) and 96 students each in the second and third years (31%). Most of the students (220 [71%]) in the study group were in the age range from 20 to 23 years. The accurate definition of telemedicine was identified by 251 (82%) respondents. The definition of telenursing was recognized properly by 230 (75%) respondents. Of the students, 207 (67%) would anticipate telenursing service implementation into the national healthcare system, and 214 (69.49%) would appreciate the addition of telenursing classes to the curriculum. Students from a few universities showed significantly higher willingness to introduce telenursing classes into nursing curriculum and the intention to use telenursing services in their future nursing practice. The difference among universities could be influenced by regional e-health initiatives. This study has shown the rise of trust in technology along with the increase in the year of nursing study. CONCLUSIONS: The current generation of university students of nursing seems to be well educated in medical informatics and technology use. They are better prepared for and open to information society membership, including the practice of telehealth. The advancement in university education has an influence on positive attitudes toward telenursing and may become a milestone in the development of e-health in Poland.

Nurses' nonverbal methods of communicating with patients in the terminal phase.

AIM: The aim of this study was to ascertain what methods of communication nurses use during interactions with patients nearing the end of their lives, with a particular focus on nonverbal communication. METHODOLOGY: A questionnaire containing 24 questions was completed by 95 nurses working in one of five hospices in Poland. RESULTS: A total of 48% of the sample reported frequently using nonverbal communication consciously and with a certain aim, and a further 37 (39%) reported that they sometimes use it. The sample's responses indicate that for patients the best form of touch is holding hands. In addition, 63% of the respondents stated that they had been educated in communicating with palliative care patients, but only 56% thought that nurses' communication knowledge and skills were satisfactory, and 50% would like to undergo training in communication skills specific to palliative care. CONCLUSION: Most nurses are aware of the importance of nonverbal communication to their interactions with palliative care patients, but a substantial proportion think that they need to be better educated in theoretical and practical aspects of communication.