Use of Handheld Phones and Perceived Efficacy of Nurses

Use of Handheld Phones and Perceived Efficacy of Nurses
Introduction
Specific Aim
           This study aims to fill current knowledge gaps in the existing literature by comprehensively examining both sides of the issue using the mixed methods research design. The study aims to research the benefits and challenges of using personal electronic devices by registered nurses at hospitals. This research will focus on the advantages of using mobile phones to access patient information among nurses and the disadvantages of using personal electronic devices to facilitate patient care. 
Background
           Handheld devices have not only become an integral part of human life. It plays a huge role, not only for personal consumption and satisfaction but even for professional and industrial purposes, to name a few. Accordingly, this includes using personal handheld devices by healthcare practitioners in the hospital setting. 
           However, similar to any kind of technology, the use of personal devices may have its own advantages in disadvantages. Most debates would revolve around the tendency of personal devices to be misused during work hours, thereby increasing the risks of procrastination, tardiness, and lack of attention, to name a few (Chase et al., 2018). Some studies even highlight some legal and ethical risks that mobile phone use may entail, including violating the patient’s right to privacy (Greer, 2019).         
In contrast, other studies suggest the beneficial relationship between the use of personal devices and efficacy in the provision of healthcare services. Most of the arguments from this side suggest that mobile phones are essential for improving care not only for communication but also for indirect effects such as reducing risks of work burnout and increasing social support (Liu & Aungsuroch, 2019). 
While there is a clear answer to this debate, the author of this article believes that understanding how to manage phone use allows healthcare managers to balance and provide strategic guidelines for using these personal devices and even increase the efficacy of the workplace’s setting. However, considering the complexity of the dynamics of both the internal and external factors relating to such usage, broadening the scope and appreciation of these factors is also essential to fully understand the relationship between these two. 
Chapter II
Theoretical Framework
In line with this, the following shows the conceptual framework between the use of personal devices and the efficacy (or at least perceived efficacy) of healthcare professionals.
Figure 1
Conceptual Map or Conceptual Framework using the Theory of Self Care in Nursing
Perceived EfficacyUse of Personal Devices (Frequency and Usage type)Internal Factors(i.e., perception of confidence)External Factors(i.e., workplace protocols)Perceived EfficacyUse of Personal Devices (Frequency and Usage type)Internal Factors(i.e., perception of confidence)External Factors(i.e., workplace protocols)
  The conceptual framework provided above focuses on the various aspects of the research study as perceived using the Theory of Self Care in nursing. According to Gonzalo (2021), the Theory of Self Care in nursing refers to the fact that patients (and even nurses) have the need to balance their physical needs and their other needs to maintain and improve their well-being. Accordingly, although this primarily applies to patients, the author strongly believes that self-care is also needed by nurses to prevent the risks of burnout, fatigue, and other stressors that could ultimately hinder their ability to provide care for their own patients. However, since the theory of self-care encompasses all factors, including internal and external variables, which may affect the nurse’s well-being, an additional layer of analysis is required to narrow down the effects of personal devices. 
Since the study presupposes that ‘efficacy’ could only be measured by the ‘perception’ of the healthcare practitioners, then ruling out other factors (internal and external) that contribute to these differences in perceived efficacy should also be done. This is what Polit and Beck (2017) referred to as data cleaning, which involves consistency checks and ruling out other variables that could influence the results. In the succeeding sections of this chapter, the author will discuss (1) the use of personal devices, (2) internal and external factors, and (3) perceived efficacy. 
Use of Personal Devices
           The use of personal devices in this study is the primary independent variable that the author seeks to measure. Mainly, usage will be determined based on; (1) frequency of usage and (2) type of usage. Both of which could have an effect on the nurse’s efficacy.
           On the one hand, the frequency of usage refers to the total amount of time spent using a personal device, whether for personal or professional consumption during work hours and break periods (Polit & Beck, 2017). Given that phones serve not only as a medium for communication but also for many other purposes, measuring the amount of time used throughout the nurse’s shift could help shed a pattern on perceived efficacy and phone usage.
           On the other hand, the type of usage refers to the amount of time used for either personal or professional use. Professional use refers to anything related to hospital duties and activities, including emails, group chats, and digital announcements. In contrast, personal use refers to everything other than those which are related to the nurse’s function within the healthcare setting. 
The reason for measuring both personal and professional use is based on the possibility that ‘efficacy’ may be directly and indirectly influenced by phone usage. Directly due to the fact that phone usage may reduce or increase efficacy when used for personal or professional purposes, respectively (Bautista, Rosenthal, Lin, & Theng, 2018). Indirectly, considering there is a possibility that personal use (i.e., entertainment) could reduce burnout and other stressors, thereby increasing the nurse’s efficacy. 
Internal and External Factors
           Aside from the personal use of devices, analyzing both the internal and external factors that may influence one’s perception of self-efficacy is also essential to determine the degree of correlation between the use of personal devices and perceived efficacy. 
           On the one hand, one of these outside variables that could influence the results is internal factors. Internal factors are those which pertain to the nurse’s personal traits, characteristics, and circumstances that are personal in nature. In one study conducted by Sutriningsih et al. (2020), the authors identified that these internal factors include knowledge, working experience, and training.
Another internal factor that may influence a nurse’s self-efficacy is burnout and fatigue. Studies show that nurses who are suffering from burnout and similar symptoms tend to perform less and perceive little of their capacity to deliver care (Liu & Aungsuroch, 2019). While there are several other personal factors that may affect a nurse’s perceived efficacy, it is clear that these internal factors could influence the results, thereby necessitating that they are filtered during the data collection process. 
           On the other hand, external factors also strongly influence the perceived efficacy of nurses in performing their work. Factors such as the workplace environment, evaluation measures, and personal incentives, among others, have a significant correlation with the perception of the nurse’s capacity to deliver care (Zefrial, 2018). Additionally, other studies also show that perceived social support on psychological issues and burnout also play a role in the perception of self-efficacy among nurses (Liu & Aungsuroch, 2019). 
           
Perceived Efficacy
           Finally, the perceived efficacy refers to the nurse’s perception of his performance, efficacy, and capacity to perform his assigned tasks, roles, and responsibilities in the healthcare setting. According to studies, the perception of self-efficacy may be determined by optimism, job satisfaction, and motivation, even though the respondent may not realize these factors as part of his perceived satisfaction (Cheng et al., 2020). Nonetheless, this may be determined with the help of a General Self-Efficacy Scale, which may be implemented in the form of a Likert-type scale (Cheng et al., 2020). 
Chronbach’s Alpha Score
Studies show that Chronbach’s Alpha Score on the General Self-efficacy Scale is 0.84 (Dougherty, Johnston, & Thompson, 2007). This is in line with results from other studies, which note that Chronbach’s Alpha is between .76 to .90 (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995).
Synthesis
           The conceptual framework above aims to determine the relationship between perceived efficacy and the use of personal mobile devices while ruling out the effects of other outside variables. Using the Theory of Self Care, the illustration aims to prove that mobile phones do not only have a direct effect (through professional use) but also an indirect effect (reducing burnout) on nurses’ efficacy. The following sections will employ a mixed-type study to prove this in the study. First, the correlation between mobile phone use and perceived satisfaction would be determined using quantitative methods or a survey questionnaire. Second,...