Continuance compliance of privacy policy of electronic medical records: the roles of both motivation and habit

Abstract

BackgroundHospitals have increasingly realized that wholesale adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) may introduce differential tangible/intangible benefits to them, including improved quality-of-care, reduced medical errors, reduced costs, and allowable instant access to relevant patient information by healthcare professionals without the limitations of time/space. However, an increased reliance on EMR has also led to a corresponding increase in the negative impact exerted via EMR breaches possibly leading to unexpected damage for both hospitals and patients. This study investigated the possible antecedents that will influence hospital employees’ continuance compliance with privacy policy of Electronic Medical Records (EMR). This is done from both motivational and habitual perspectives; specifically, we investigated the mediating role of habit between motivation and continuance compliance intention with EMR privacy policy.MethodsData was collected from a large Taiwanese medical center by means of survey methodology. A total of 312 responses comprised of various groups of healthcare professionals was collected and analyzed via structural equation modeling.ResultsThe results demonstrated that self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, and facilitating conditions may significantly predict hospital employees’ compliance habit formation, whereas habit may significantly predict hospital employees’ intention to continuance adherence to EMR privacy policy. Further, habit partially mediates the relationships between self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions and continuance adherence intention.ConclusionsBased on our findings, the study suggests that healthcare facilities should take measures to promote their employees’ habitualization with continuous efforts to protect EMR privacy parameters. Plausible strategies include improving employees’ levels of self-efficacy, publicizing the effectiveness of on-going privacy policy, and creating a positive habit-conducive environment leading to continued compliance behaviors.

The Role of Personality and Top Management Support in Continuance Intention to Use Electronic Health Record Systems among Nurses

“…Consequently, investments in Information Systems (ISs) to raise the efficiency of medical systems and lower the costs of running healthcare facilities have become a significant area of focus for governments and hospitals. These ISs are used to gather patient information from diverse sources into a single digital archive [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

The role of undergraduate medical students training in respect for patient confidentiality

“…In the United Kingdom, a similar phenomenon was described in primary medical care attention, so there was a proposal to assign a unique digital identity to each student that leaves an indelible and identifiable mark and is therefore susceptible to being traced [ 34 ]. To counteract the above-described conduct, it is a priority for healthcare institutions to apply educational and even motivational measures [ 54 ] to take responsibility for the risks and ethical and legal problems arising from their employment by students [ 52 , 55 , 56 ]. Specifically, simulation experiences and “train the trainer” models, both for students and professionals, are considered effective methods of managing ethical challenges through education and the dissemination of evidence-based EMR strategies [ 57 ].…”

The Role of Undegraduate Medical Students Training in Respect for Patient Confidentiality

“…In the United Kingdom, a similar phenomenon was described in primary medical care attention, so that, it was proposed to assign to each student a unique digital identity, that leaves an indelible and identi able mark and is therefore susceptible to being traced [27]. To counteract the above-described conduct, it is esteemed to be a priority for the healthcare institutions to apply educational and even motivational measures [46] to take responsibility for the risks and ethical and legal problems arising from their employment by students [44,47,48].…”