Background of the study
In recent years, the proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICT) has spread its tentacles into almost every sector of society, one of which is the medical sector. In recent years, information and communication technology (ICT) has seen broad adoption and use, which has caused it to penetrate almost every element of human and organizational life, including the healthcare business (Powell, Darvell, & Gray 2015). According to Park (2015), the Health Information System was established so that full advantage could be taken of technological advancements, most notably the Internet, in the service of delivering superior medical treatment. Health information systems are typically defined as the interaction of people, processes, and technology to support operations and management in the delivery of critical information to improve the quality of healthcare services. This definition highlights the importance of the interplay between people, processes, and technology. The nature of the healthcare sector, similar to that of any other business, has evolved over the course of time from being one that is relatively stable to being one that is dynamic. In addition, developments in a variety of information technologies have led to the evolution of health information systems (Haux, 2016).
The term "health information management," abbreviated "HIM," refers to the application of "information management" to the realm of "health" and "health care." The process of gathering, evaluating, and safeguarding both digital and analog patient information is very necessary in order to provide high-quality medical treatment to patients. Electronic health records are gradually replacing conventional health records that were kept on paper as a result of the growing use of computerization of medical information (EHRs). The tools that are used for health informatics and health information technology are continuously being developed to bring about higher efficacy in the management of information within the health care industry. HIM is often put into practice via several information systems, the most prevalent of which being hospital information systems and the Human Resource for Health Information System (HRHIS).
Information systems are planned, health policies are developed, and present and future information requirements are determined by specialists in the field of health information management. In addition to this, they may utilize the science of informatics to gather, store, analyze, use, and transmit information in order to fulfill the legal, professional, ethical, and administrative record-keeping requirements of the health care delivery system (World Health Organization, 2010). In addition to the provision of medical services, the hospital is often responsible for the provision of clinical education and training to students, nurses, and other healthcare workers, in addition to the maintenance of patient records.
Many studies have been conducted throughout the years with the primary goal of protecting the privacy of patients' medical information. According to the most recent edition of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2018), "confidentiality" refers to demonstrating that you are discussing something that is secret or private as well as being trusted with information that is secret or private. The doctor-patient relationship is built on a foundation of trust, and maintaining that trust requires strict adherence to confidentiality. In the event that confidentiality is not maintained, patients may be hesitant to divulge private or sensitive information that you would need to know in order to provide them with the proper treatment. It is impossible to place enough importance on the maintenance and protection of patients' medical records. The health administrators who work in the health records unit are responsible for maintaining the patient records and managing the unit. Patient records are very important to any healthcare facility. The right to privacy of a patient encompasses both the secrecy of information pertaining to the patient as well as the patient's physical autonomy in matters of privacy. From a historical point of view, an overview of legal instruments related to patient rights demonstrates that privacy and confidentiality of private life were involved in all relevant instruments (such as the American Hospital Association's Patient's Bill of Rights from 1972, the World Medical Association's Declaration of Lisbon on the Rights of the Patient from 1981, the Amsterdam Declaration on the Promotion of Patients' Rights in Europe from 1994, the Bali Declaration from 1995, and the European Charter of Patients' Rights).
For a therapy relationship to be productive and respectful from the beginning and throughout its existence, protecting confidentiality and privacy are essential. The protection of an individual's right to privacy is a valuable contribution to society since it promotes open communication about patients' and practitioners' concerns about their health. To protect their patients' privacy, doctors are required to keep secret any information that patients provide them or that they learn in the course of their professional interactions with patients (Braunack-Mayer et al., 2003). Privacy is essential because it creates a safe setting for patients, in which they can receive medical attention and give information that is exhaustive and precise, which in turn helps to restore patients' faith in the medical system and highlights how critically it is to respect patients' right to exercise their own autonomy (Beauchamp, 2009). Therefore, the protection of patient confidentiality on the part of hospital staff entails the need to ensure that patient information obtained during treatment will be shared only with those who are providing health care to the patient. This is the case unless the patient consents for others to receive the patient's information or an exception to the protection of patient confidentiality is applicable.
Statement of the problem
Patients at the hospital have filed lawsuits against the hospital as a result of the attitude of the health administrator (health information management). It has resulted in mistrust between patients and the medical staff working at the hospital because of this. As a result of the disclosure of staff records on medically challenging situations, it has increased the stigmatization of patients' private information. According to Ojo and Popoola (2015), when patients use health care services, it is essential for them to provide personal information to the staff members who are providing the treatment for them. As professionals, those who provide medical treatment have a responsibility to honor the confidence placed in them by patients and to protect the confidentiality of their medical records. On the other hand, patients often have a limited understanding of the rights they have to privacy and secrecy. Previous qualitative research has shown that a sizeable proportion of patients are hesitant or unwilling to provide some of the personal information that is required for their treatment. They may even offer false or incomplete information about their medical history because they are concerned that the healthcare providers may disclose such information to uninvited third parties. This is done due to their belief that such information may be disclosed. Even if the health care providers do not disclose such information, it is possible that in teaching hospitals like University College Hospitals (UCH), where consultations are conducted with multiple medical personnel in the same room as well as the presence of medical students, it can be difficult to maintain one's privacy. This is especially true in environments where medical students are present.
In light of these facts, a research was carried out with the purpose of examining the perspective held by professionals working in health information management with regard to the confidentiality of patient information.
Objective of the study
The broad objective of this study is to examine attitude of health information management personnel towards the confidentiality of patient information. Other specific objectives includes:
1.Ascertain whether there is effective health information management in the hospital.
2.Determine whether health workers are aware of the importance of patent’s information confidentiality.
3.Determine the extent to which patients health information is made confidential among health personnel.
4.Find out if health personnel have a positive attitude towards the confidentiality of patient information.
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