A Study on Protecting Patients' Privacy of Obstetric and Gynecologic Nurses

Awareness of, attitudes towards, and practices of health information management professionals in South Korea relating to privacy of personal health information

Background: While information and communication technology has continued to advance, privacy of personal health information (PHI) has remained a challenge for health information management (HIM) professionals. Objective: This study aims to examine the awareness, attitude and practice relating to PHI privacy among HIM professionals in South Korea. Method: A survey questionnaire was developed for the study based on critical appraisal of relevant literature and expert consensus. It was completed by a sample of 312 respondents who were members of the Korean Health Information Management Association, over the age of 21, and worked in a healthcare organisation. Demographic data and questionnaire items (assessed on a 5-point Likert-type scale) were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests and ANOVA. Results: Mean scores and SDs for awareness, attitude and practice related to PHI privacy were calculated: 4.21 (0.60) for awareness, 4.17 (0.60) for attitude and 4.31 (0.63) for practice. Significant positive correlations were found between awareness and attitude scores (r = 0.765, p < 0.01); awareness and practice scores (r = 0.585; p < 0.01); and attitude and action scores (r = 0.672; p < 0.01). HIM professionals' awareness, attitude, and practice towards PHI privacy differed significantly according to age, level of education, years of HIM experience, type of employment, main task, number of completed privacy education activities within the previous 3 years and whether or not they had signed a pledge of confidentiality on PHI. More highly-educated, full-time employed respondents, those who had completed a greater number of privacy education activities and had more experience as HIM professionals, achieved higher scores on awareness, attitude and practice than did other respondents. These differences were all statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Although causality cannot be inferred from results of this study, findings suggest that there is a relationship between PHI being a core responsibility of HIM professionals and their subsequent awareness, attitude and practice to ensure its privacy and confidentiality. To improve privacy practice, educational efforts should be prioritised and supported at all levels, including national, organisational, individual, and by professional HIM associations.

Development and validation of the information security attitude questionnaire (ISA-Q) for nurses

AIM

The aim of the study was to understand nurses' information security attitudes towards patient information. This study developed the Information Security Attitude Questionnaire (ISA-Q) to measure the physical, technical and administrative aspects of information security for nurses and assessed its validity and reliability.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study and scale development.

METHODS

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and correlation analyses were performed to assess construct, discriminant and convergent validity; Cronbach's α and test-retest reliability were examined.

RESULTS

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a 6-factor, 30-item solution. Six factors accounted for 60.19% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis was achieved through structural equation modelling. Discriminant and convergent validity were confirmed. The internal consistency of the ISA-Q was 0.94, and the test-retest reliability was 0.74. The ISA-Q is an appropriate questionnaire for identifying information security attitudes of nurses, making it useful for developing systematic performance methods to enhance nurses' information security levels.

A Cross-Sectional Study: Patient Privacy According to Doctors and Nurses

Confidentiality is fundamental in building trust between patients and healthcare professionals. This research aims at presenting healthcare professionals' opinions on patient privacy, using a 5-point Likert-type scale titled "Opinion of the Healthcare Professionals on Patient Privacy," and 262 physicians' and 231 nurses' opinions were evaluated. Results showed that nurses and doctors working at emergency services got higher mean scores than those working at other units. Results revealed that doctors had the highest mean score for the item "It is important that the patient's body is not seen by other patients and professionals during the treatment," while nurses had the highest mean score for the item "I approach with due care to protect privacy in the work environment." Results of this work highlight that patient's right to privacy constitutes one of the most significant issues to be noted by healthcare professionals.

Information Security in Nursing: A Concept Analysis

The concept of information security in nursing can improve the basic understanding of security issues in nursing. This study aimed to report on information security in nursing that considers the technical, physical, and administrative aspects of information. We used a hybrid model to analyze the concept and conducted on-site interviews. The analysis revealed 7 attributes: physical aspect: environmental control, facility stability; technical aspect: information accessibility, taking advantage of features; and administrative aspect: systematicity of work, execution of education, professional responsibility. Our model could help identify the physical, technical, and administrative attributes and definitions of information security in nursing.

Nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of privacy protection behaviours and information provision

Background:

With increased attention to patient privacy and autonomy, privacy protection and information provision for patients are becoming increasingly important.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to identify and analyse nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of the importance and performance of protecting patients’ privacy and providing them with relevant information.

Research design:

This study is a descriptive cross-sectional investigation. Participants and research context: Participants were 168 patients hospitalised in medical and surgical wards and 176 nurses who cared for them.

Ethical consideration:

This study was approved by the Chung-Ang University Bioethics Committee, and informed written consent was collected from all participants.

Findings:

Nurses’ recognition of the importance of protecting patients’ privacy and providing adequate information was higher compared to their actual performance, and the nurses’ level of performance was higher in comparison with the patients’ recognition of its importance.

Discussion:

Although a holistic approach to patient privacy protection and information provision is needed, the medical field has not embraced this model of care.

Conclusions:

These findings provide empirical data to create an ethical environment for the future, as considerable attention has been devoted to patients’ rights and medical institutions’ liability for providing explanations to patients.