Health professionals' knowledge and attitude towards patient confidentiality and associated factors in a resource-limited setting: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Respecting patients’ confidentiality is an ethical and legal responsibility for health professionals and the cornerstone of care excellence. This study aims to assess health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and associated factors towards patients’ confidentiality in a resource-limited setting. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 health professionals. Stratified sampling methods were used to select the participants, and a structured self-administer questionnaire was used for data collection. The data was entered using Epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS, version 25. Bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were used to measure the association between the dependent and independent variables. Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals and P value was calculated to determine the strength of association and to evaluate statistical significance. Result Out of 410 participants, about 59.8% with [95% CI (54.8–68.8%)] and 49.5% with [95% CI (44.5–54.5%)] had good knowledge and favorable attitude towards patents confidentiality respectively. Being male (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI [1.03–2.59]), taking training on medical ethics (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = [1.11–2.70]), facing ethical dilemmas (AOR = 3.07, 95% CI [1.07–8.79]) were significantly associated factors for health professional knowledge towards patients’ confidentiality. Likewise, taking training on medical ethics (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI [1.42–3.72]), having direct contact with the patients (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI [1.12–8.34]), visiting more patient (AOR = 4.38, 95% CI [2.46–7.80]), and facing ethical dilemma (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI [1.23–10.26]) were significant factors associated with attitude of health professionals towards patient confidentiality. Conclusion The findings of this study revealed that health professionals have a limited attitude towards patient confidentiality but have relatively good knowledge. Providing a continuing medical ethics training package for health workers before joining the hospital and in between the working time could be recommended to enhance health professionals’ knowledge and attitude towards patient confidentiality.

Physicians’ legal knowledge of informed consent and confidentiality. A cross-sectional study

“…Compared to other studies regarding physicians' knowledge of various aspects of the law, our respondents' overall score was marginally lower [11]. The confidentiality score of 1.53 out of 3 is consistent with Karasneh's (7 out of 14) but lower than Beltran Aroca's (6.8 out of 10) and Tegegne's (3.91 out of 7) [8,12,13].…”

“…Despite earlier research indicating that specialty [22], age, and years in practice [8,12], are predictors of confidentiality breaches, our data revealed no variations among physicians. However, we did not assess other variables considered in prior research, such as gender, ethics education, patient volume, and the frequency of ethical issues physicians encounter in their field of practice [13].…”

Electronic Medical Record System Use and Determinants in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…EMRs are computerized patient record systems introduced in the early 1970s to collect, store, and display patient information [2,3]. EMRs can include a variety of clinical services units, such as test ordering, consultation, e-prescription, decision support system, digital imaging, and telemedicine, while protecting patient privacy and confidentiality [4][5][6].…”

Perceptions and attitudes of women in the perinatal period towards male midwives in a rural district of Ghana: a descriptive, exploratory qualitative study

“…The women’s views and experience of male midwives in this regard may be correct. A similar study has demonstrated that male healthcare providers have more knowledge of and positive attitudes towards patient confidentiality than females 32. These findings could be a positive reinforcement for more intake of males in midwifery training by the Ghana Health Service 7…”