Patient perspectives on medical confidentiality

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To lay the groundwork for a better understanding of patient views on medical confidentiality. DESIGN: Studies were found by searching MEDLINE, BIOETHICSLINE, and selected bibliographies. Articles concerning physician perspectives or implications of legal and administrative regulations were excluded. Only peer-reviewed journal articles reporting original research on patients' confidentiality views and conduct were included. MAIN RESULTS:Many patients are unaware of or misunderstand their legal or ethical right to medical confidentiality protections, which leads them to both over-and underestimate confidentiality protections. The possibility that medical information might be revealed, intentionally or not, to acquaintances in a clinic or other social community troubles patients as much as information release to insurers or employers. A significant minority of patients distrust confidentiality protections, leading some to report that they delay or forgo medical care. If doubtful that confidentiality will be upheld, patients will act independently to protect information. CONCLUSIONS: Our review found a wider variety of understandings and beliefs about medical confidentiality among patients than are often indicated in the writings of practitioners or legal experts. As medical confidentiality regulations evolve, these differences need to be recognized and accounted for in interactions between practitioners and patients.

Patient satisfaction with services of the outpatient department

“…15 In this study, satisfaction level was high regarding explanation about sickness to patients and maintaining respect, privacy and dignity during the consultation process among all the study groups. Main Dispensary is the usual exit point, where patients arrive after OPD consultation, collect medicines and depart.…”

Designing a Patient-Centered User Interface for Access Decisions about EHR Data: Implications from Patient Interviews

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A prospective study of level of satisfaction among surgical patients in a tertiary care hospital of central India

“…Privacy and confidentiality are not only basic rights of the patients but also serve towards a trustful, frank and open relationship with the doctor, thus improving patient care. 22 In our study satisfaction level was high regarding spending adequate time with the patient, explanation of the disease ,use of easy understanding language during patient empowerment and counselling, regarding explanation about sickness to patients , maintaining respect, privacy and dignity during the consultation process among patients. Average mean time for counselling in our series is 8.5 minutes.…”