A new study published in the international peer-reviewed journal BMC Medical Education sheds light on how future nurses perceive telemedicine and what influences their willingness to use it in their future practice.
The article, “Pre-use acceptability of telemedicine among nursing students: a quantitative cross-sectional study”, was authored by Simona Hvalič-Touzery, PhD, Jerneja Laznik, Mojca Šetinc and Vesna Dolničar, PhD, from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, in collaboration with Angela Kydd, PhD (Edinburgh Napier University, UK) and Nejc Berzelak, PhD, (Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia).
As healthcare systems continue to embrace digital technologies, telemedicine is increasingly seen as an important tool for improving access to care and addressing growing pressures on health services. However, its successful implementation will depend not only on technological advances but also on the readiness of future healthcare professionals to incorporate it into their practice.
The study explored the factors shaping Slovenian nursing students’ willingness to use telemedicine before gaining direct experience with it. Drawing on data collected from nursing students across all Slovenian higher education institutions offering undergraduate nursing programmes, the researchers found that willingness to use telemedicine is strongly influenced by three key factors: knowledge of telemedicine, perceptions of its usefulness in nursing practice, and technology anxiety.
The findings highlight the importance of integrating competencies related to healthcare digitalisation into nursing education while also addressing technology anxiety and other psychological barriers to technology adoption. According to the authors, preparing future healthcare professionals for the digital transformation of healthcare requires more than technical training alone. Educational approaches that build confidence, foster digital competencies, and support positive attitudes towards technology are equally important.
The study contributes to the growing body of research on the digital transformation of healthcare and offers valuable insights for educators, healthcare institutions, and policymakers seeking to strengthen the digital readiness of the future healthcare workforce.
The article is available in BMC Medical Education: Hvalič-Touzery, S., Kydd, A., Berzelak, N., Laznik, J., Šetinc, M., & Dolničar, V. (2026). Pre-use acceptability of telemedicine among nursing students: a quantitative cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education, 26, 834. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-09148-0
The study was supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency under grants J5-4578, J5-70195 and P5-0399.