The effect of nomophobic behaviors among nurses on their clinical decision-making perceptions

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore the impact of nomophobic behaviors among hospital nurses on their clinical decision-making perceptions. This understanding can offer insights to enhance the work environment, improve the clinical decision-making ability of nurses and guide medical institutions in the management of related equipment and policy development.

Background: The term "nomophobia" refers to the anxiety and fear individuals experience when they cannot use their smartphones or when smartphones are not accessible. Nursing clinical decision-making is a complex process, including a meticulous assessment of the patient's pathological condition and medical history, alongside the application of nursing knowledge and experiential learning rooted in critical thinking. The concept of clinical decision-making perceptions is defined as a deliberate cognitive understanding of one's decision-making processes, which significantly influences the clinical decision-making capabilities of healthcare professionals, thereby impacting the quality of patient care. The factors influencing these clinical decision-making perceptions have been the subject of extensive research. However, there is no Chinese research on the impact of nurses ' nomophobic behaviors on their clinical decision-making perception.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive survey using online-based delivery modes was used.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. Using convenience sampling, we surveyed the nurses from a tertiary hospital in Nanjing in May 2023. Data were gathered using a sociodemographic data form, the Nomophobia Questionnaire and the Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing Scale. Techniques including the independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were employed to probe the degree of nomophobia and its effects on their perception of clinical decision-making. Out of 284 questionnaires gathered, 272 were deemed valid, resulting in a 95.8% effective response rate.

Results: The data revealed that participants exhibited a medium level of nomophobia (54.01 ± 24.09) and clinical decision-making perceptions (144.94 ± 20.08). A robust negative correlation was discerned between nomophobia and clinical decision-making perceptions (r: -0.365, P<0.001). This study highlighted that as the degree of nomophobia intensified, nurses' clinical decision-making perceptions decreased with the increase in nomophobia.

Conclusion: Nomophobic behaviors can hamper nurses' perception of clinical decision-making, potentially leading to inaccuracies or errors. Nurses must use mobile phones judiciously, practice self-regulation and mitigate the disruptive effects of nomophobia on their decision-making. In addition, medical institutions should foster relevant education or craft policies to regularize mobile phone use, augmenting nurses' efficiency and decision-making prowess, enhancing patient care quality, diminishing medical errors and ensuring patient health and safety.

Keywords: Clinical decision-making perceptions; Mobile phone addiction; Nomophobia; Nursing education; Nursing students.