Technological innovation for workload allocation in nursing care management: an integrative review

Abstract

Background: Technology reduces the nursing workload, improve the quality care processes, patient's safety, and avoid staff burnout. Innovative technologies are disrupting healthcare systems by improving the efficiency of processes and management. There is a discussion on the benefits, challenges, and barriers of these technologies and considering human factors of nursing management. Methods: To analyse the nursing workload models, the predictors of nursing burnout and outcomes, the new technologies and its acceptance for nursing care management based on the literature. An integrative literature review is performed. Scopus, Scielo, PUBMED, and CINALH databases were searched to perform an integrative review following PRISMA guidelines. Articles published from January 2016 to December 2020 were included. Quality appraisal was performed using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool version 1.4 (CCAT). Two reviewers independently examined the title and abstract for eligibility according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality appraisal was performed using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool version 1.4 (CCAT). Results: Initially 2,818 articles were potentially relevant. After following the PRISMA Guidelines, 35 studies were included in the review. Four themes appeared: Nursing workload models; Predictors of nursing burnout and outcomes; Information technologies and technological means for management; Technology acceptance. Conclusions: Technology has the potential to improve care management by estimating nurse workload in ICUs and non-critical units, but scientific evidence is more detailed in the former type of services. The literature provides insights about the factors that factors and the barriers that promote the technology acceptance and usability. We did not find studies comparing technologies and no scientific evidence proving improvements in care.