Informatics Competency and Technology Self-Efficacy Profiles in Saudi Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The Saudi Arabian healthcare sector is transforming under Vision 2030, with the goal of digitizing services. This necessitates a digitally prepared nursing workforce; however, evidence suggests that nursing students have limited informatics competency, and these skills are minimally covered in their training OBJECTIVE To measure the baseline informatics competency and technology self-efficacy of Saudi undergraduate nursing students METHODS Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were collected from 243 undergraduate nursing students from Hail University via an online survey. The survey content covered demographics, informatics competency (Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale), and digital technology self-efficacy. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis RESULTS Students reported a moderate level of informatics competency, with a mean Canadian Nurse Informatics Competency Assessment Scale score of 2.16 (out of 4). They also showed moderate-to-high self-efficacy for digital technology, with a mean score of 2.7 (out of 4). Competency informatics scores were significantly higher among students with prior informatics training and frequent electronic health record exposure. Additionally, self-efficacy for digital technology was positively associated with informatics competency CONCLUSIONS There is a substantial gap between the informatics competencies of Saudi undergraduate nursing students and the expectations of Vision 2030. The findings indicate the need for improvements in informatics training and clinical electronic health record experience in the nursing curriculum to create a digitally competent workforce in the future CLINICALTRIAL NA