Abstract
Recent changes in policy and culture require health workers to incorporate ‘‘knowledge work’’ as a routine
component of professional practice. Innovative computer-mediated communication technologies provide the
opportunity to evaluate the nature of ‘‘knowledge work’’ within nursing and midwifery. This study embedded an
online discussion system into an acute NHS Trust to support interaction within communities of practice. The complete
record of online communications was analysed.
Nurses were found to predominantly engage in information work with knowledge work restricted to senior-to-senior
level exchanges. In contrast, midwives were observed to employ the technology to support knowledge work between all
grades.
The study indicates that technology can support knowledge work, including conveying tacit knowledge effectively.
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