A1 Journal article (refereed)
Social services and healthcare personnel’s digital competence profiles : A Finnish cross-sectional study (2025)


Ylönen, M., Forsman, P., Karvo, T., Jarva, E., Antikainen, T., Kulmala, P., Mikkonen, K., Kärkkäinen, T., & Hämäläinen, R. (2025). Social services and healthcare personnel’s digital competence profiles : A Finnish cross-sectional study. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 13, Article 105658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105658


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Ylönen, Minna; Forsman, Panu; Karvo, Tapio; Jarva, Erika; Antikainen, Teuvo; Kulmala, Petri; Mikkonen, Kristina; Kärkkäinen, Tommi; Hämäläinen, Raija

Journal or series: International Journal of Medical Informatics

ISSN: 1386-5056

eISSN: 1872-8243

Publication year: 2025

Publication date: 18/10/2024

Volume: 13

Article number: 105658

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105658

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4776553


Abstract

Background
Recent research has highlighted the deficiencies and variations in the digital competences of social services and healthcare personnel. Yet there is a shortage of data regarding how the personnel use digital devices and solutions and their attitudes towards digitalisation. Hence, a systematic investigation into digital devices and solutions in healthcare is warranted.

Objectives
This study aimed to analyse the similarities and differences in digital competences and organisational support among healthcare personnel, focusing on using digital applications and services. The primary research question was to investigate what kinds of digital competence profiles are identifiable through social services and healthcare personnel self-assessments.

Methods
The survey was conducted in the Wellbeing Services County of Central Finland at the end of 2023. It utilised validated self-assessment methods and garnered 643 responses from social services and healthcare professionals. Data analysis involved quantitative cluster analysis for grouping participants and qualitative content analysis for describing the clusters.

Results
The study resulted in a final model of seven clusters that presented distinct digital competence profiles with relatively even sizes. These clusters represented the different aspects of digital usage among social services and healthcare professionals. They could be categorised into three overarching profiles: 1) Motivated digital experts, 2) Burdened digital users and 3) Frustrated survivors. Motivated digital experts comprised up almost half of the respondents (45.1%). Still, the findings also facilitated identifying of a small group of Frustrated survivors (7.5%) who represented burdened and stressed digital users.

Conclusions
The results indicate significant variances in digital competence profiles among employees. Social services and healthcare personnel perceive the opportunities and challenges associated with digital applications and services differently. Further detailed research into the disparities between digital competence profiles is necessary, particularly regarding the types of support that benefit different profiles the most.


Keywords: digitalisation; social services; health services; employees; digital competence; electronic services

Free keywords: digitalisation; digital competence; digital gaps; social services; healthcare


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Ministry reporting: Yes

JUFO rating: 3

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3


Last updated on 2024-02-11 at 20:07