Factors Contributing to Successful Information System Implementation and Employee Well-Being in Health Care and Social Welfare Professionals: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The integration of information systems in health care and social welfare organizations has brought significant changes in patient and client care. This integration is expected to offer numerous benefits, but simultaneously the implementation of health information systems and client information systems can also introduce added stress due to the increased time and effort required by professionals. Objective: This study aimed to examine whether professional groups and the factors that contribute to successful implementation (participation in information systems development and satisfaction with software providers' development work) are associated with the well-being of health care and social welfare professionals. Methods: Data were obtained from 3 national cross-sectional surveys (n=9240), which were carried out among Finnish health care and social welfare professionals (registered nurses, physicians, and social welfare professionals) in 2020-2021. Self-rated stress and stress related to information systems were used as indicators of well-being. Analyses were conducted using linear and logistic regression analysis. Results: Registered nurses were more likely to experience self-rated stress than physicians (odds ratio [OR] -0.47; P>.001) and social welfare professionals (OR -0.68; P<.001). They also had a higher likelihood of stress related to information systems than physicians (b=-.11; P<.001). Stress related to information systems was less prevalent among professionals who did not participate in information systems development work (b=-.14; P<.001). Higher satisfaction with software providers' development work was associated with a lower likelihood of self-rated stress (OR -0.23; P<.001) and stress related to information systems (b=-.36 P<.001). When comparing the professional groups, we found that physicians who were satisfied with software providers' development work had a significantly lower likelihood of stress related to information systems (b=-.12; P<.001) compared with registered nurses and social welfare professionals. Conclusions: Organizations can enhance the well-being of professionals and improve the successful implementation of information systems by actively soliciting and incorporating professional feedback, dedicating time for information systems development, fostering collaboration with software providers, and addressing the unique needs of different professional groups.