Digital Competencies of Healthcare Professionals and Their Influence on Quality of Care: A Study from the Perspective of Healthcare Workers
Keywords:
digital competencies, healthcare quality, healthcare professionals, digital transformation, health information technologyAbstract
Digital transformation has significantly changed healthcare delivery by incorporating technological tools that require new competencies among healthcare professionals. Proper use of electronic health records, health information systems, telemedicine platforms, and digital resources directly influences service efficiency, patient safety, and quality of care. However, disparities in digital competencies persist among healthcare workers, potentially affecting professional performance and healthcare outcomes. To analyze the influence of healthcare professionals' digital competencies on perceived quality of care in public healthcare institutions. A quantitative, observational, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals working in public health institutions. Participants were selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing digital literacy, digital communication, information management, cybersecurity, technological problem-solving, and perceived quality of care. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Hypothetically, 68.5% of participants demonstrated high digital competency, 24.0% moderate competency, and 7.5% low competency. Furthermore, 81.0% perceived improvements in healthcare quality associated with effective use of digital technologies. A positive association was observed between digital competencies and perceived quality of care. Digital competencies represent a strategic factor for improving healthcare quality by enhancing clinical processes, professional communication, patient safety, and service efficiency. Continuous digital training programs are recommended to strengthen technological capabilities among healthcare professionals.
References
Association of American Medical Colleges. (2023). Digital competencies for medical education: A framework for educators. https://www.aamc.org
Car, J., Koh, G. C. H., Foong, P. S., & Wang, C. J. (2021). Digital health competencies among healthcare professionals: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(9), e25070. https://doi.org/10.2196/25070
European Commission, Joint Research Centre. (2022). The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp 2.2): With new examples of knowledge, skills and attitudes (Y. Punie & S. Vuorikari, Eds.). Publications Office of the European Union. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128415
Nazeha, N., Pavagadhi, D., Kyaw, B. M., Car, J., Jimenez, G., & Tudor Car, L. (2020). A digitally competent health workforce: Scoping review of educational frameworks. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(11), e22706. https://doi.org/10.2196/22706
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2023). Health at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/7a7afb35-en
Organización Panamericana de la Salud. (2023). La estrategia para la transformación digital del sector de la salud en la Región de las Américas. Organización Panamericana de la Salud. https://www.paho.org
Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.
Topol, E. (2024). Deep medicine: How artificial intelligence can make healthcare human again (Updated ed.). Basic Books.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2023). Global education monitoring report 2023: Technology in education—A tool on whose terms? UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org
van Kessel, R., Wong, B. L. H., Forman, R., Gabrani, J., & Mossialos, E. (2022). The European Health Data Space fails to bridge digital health inequalities. The Lancet Digital Health, 4(9), e607–e608. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(22)00153-5
Vuorikari, R., Kluzer, S., & Punie, Y. (2022). DigComp 2.2: The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens. Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2760/115376
World Health Organization. (2021). Global strategy on digital health 2020–2025. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240020924
World Health Organization. (2024). Global digital health certification network. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int
World Health Organization. (2024). Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications
World Medical Association. (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Valeria Soledad Martínez Cabrera (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
