BACKGROUND
The digital transition has considerably increased the number of data exchanged in healthcare, with new risks related to security and ethics. Health professionals may have difficulties to consider security during data sharing because of technical and environmental constraints.
OBJECTIVE
Here, we aim at understanding how to help them to better consider security during data sharing.
METHODS
We conducted a qualitative research with 20 interviews of practitioners in surgery wards from several French institutions. The verbatims issued from interviews were analyzed manually, independently and one by one, by two researchers, following iterative thematic analysis. The hierarchy of codes resulting from the analysis conducted to develop a comprehensive model.
RESULTS
We showed that safety awareness could be enhanced with actions at 3 levels. At technical level, there is a need to develop a suitable digital device, in the form of a professional smartphone with a secured and usable application for both data sharing and storage. The application should provide an instant messaging, allowing the transfer of high and complex data, and be interoperable with both the Electronic Health Record and a datawarehouse. At individual level, health professionals should benefit more education in digital health, including security. At institutional level, hospitals should be more involved by providing regulations, assistance, financial investment and limiting professional’s constraints.
CONCLUSIONS
A global strategy should be adopted to enhance security in data sharing, with new devices integrated in a systemic change.