Protecting HIV information in countries scaling up HIV services: a baseline study

Beck, Eduard J.; Mandalia, Sundhiya; Harling, Guy; Santas, Xenophon; Mosure, Debra J.; DeLay, Paul

doi:10.1186/1758-2652-14-6

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Confidentiality of patient information is based on trust between healthcare providers and their patients [15]. The general principle justifying the reasons for access and disclosure of minimum patient-identifiable information should be that it is acceptable only when absolutely necessary and on a strict need-to-know basis [12, 15, 22]. About 58% of HIV-OPC staff never shared patient information with other trusted healthcare personnel for consultation purposes, but some doctors and nurses often or always did so.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A balance is needed between the collection and sharing of individual-level data with the protection and safeguarding of such data, to optimize clinical care and to monitor and evaluate HIV services. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) investigated 98 mid- and low-income countries; reports varied substantially on issues of information governance and privacy, data storage and availability, data access, and data transfer [12, 22]. Several guidelines and standards on data security and confidentiality exist to facilitate the sharing and use of HIV surveillance data, covering access and roles, data sharing, physical and electronic data security, and security breaches [23–28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Practices in security and confidentiality of HIV/AIDS patients’ information: A national survey among staff at HIV outpatient clinics in Vietnam

et al. 2017

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IntroductionBreach of confidentiality or invasion of privacy from the collection and use of medical records, particularly those of patients with HIV/AIDS or other diseases sensitive to stigmatization, should be prevented by all related stakeholders in healthcare settings. The main focus of this study was to assess practices regarding security and confidentiality of HIV-related information among staff at HIV outpatient clinics (HIV-OPCs) in Vietnam.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at all 312 HIV-OPCs across the country using an online survey technique.ResultsIn general, the staff practices for securing and protecting patient information were at acceptable levels. Most staff had proper measures and practices for maintaining data security; however, the protection of patient confidentiality, particularly for data access, sharing, and transfer still required improvement. Most HIV-OPC staff had good or moderate knowledge and positive perceptions towards security and confidentiality issues. Staff who were not trained in the practice of security measures differed significantly from those who were trained (OR: 3.74; 95%CI: 1.44–9.67); staff needing improved knowledge levels differed significantly from those with good (OR: 5.20; 95%CI: 2.39–11.32) and moderate knowledge levels (OR: 5.10; 95%CI: 2.36–11.00); and staff needing improved perception levels differed significantly from those with good (i.e., with 100% proper practices) and moderate perception levels (OR: 5.67; 95%CI: 2.93–10.95). Staff who were not trained in the protection of data confidentiality differed significantly from those who were trained (OR: 2.18; 95%CI: 1.29–3.65).ConclusionsTraining is an important factor to help raise the levels of proper practices regarding confidentiality and security, to improve knowledge and raise awareness about change among staff. The operation and management of HIV treatment and care in Vietnam are currently transitioning from separate healthcare clinics (HIV-OPC) into units integrated into general hospitals/healthcare facilities. The findings of this study highlight topics that could be used for improving management and operation of information system and revising guidelines and regulations on protection measures/strategies for data security and confidentiality of HIV/AIDS patients by Vietnam health authorities or other countries facing similar situations. Secure infrastructure and secure measures for data access and use are very important, worthwhile investments. The provision of continuous training and active enforcement and monitoring of the practices of healthcare personnel might lead to an improved understanding and acknowledegement of the importance of national policies/guidelines regarding HIV-related patient information.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Practices in security and confidentiality of HIV/AIDS patients’ information: A national survey among staff at HIV outpatient clinics in Vietnam

et al. 2017

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“…The aim of this exercise was to assess whether low- and middle-income countries, which were scaling up HIV services, had developed and implemented guidelines to protect the confidentiality and security of HIV information (23). Results indicated that few countries had actually developed guidelines covering the areas of privacy , confidentiality , and security .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, of the 49 countries claiming to have developed privacy laws, 55% reported that they had not developed any guidelines for the implementation of such laws. Of those countries that reportedly had developed policy guidelines, their implementation lacked the breadth and depth of those set out in the Interim Guidelines (23). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protecting the confidentiality and security of personal health information in low- and middle-income countries in the era of SDGs and Big Data

Beck

Gill

Lay³

2016

Global Health Action

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BackgroundAs increasing amounts of personal information are being collected through a plethora of electronic modalities by statutory and non-statutory organizations, ensuring the confidentiality and security of such information has become a major issue globally. While the use of many of these media can be beneficial to individuals or populations, they can also be open to abuse by individuals or statutory and non-statutory organizations. Recent examples include collection of personal information by national security systems and the development of national programs like the Chinese Social Credit System. In many low- and middle-income countries, an increasing amount of personal health information is being collected. The collection of personal health information is necessary, in order to develop longitudinal medical records and to monitor and evaluate the use, cost, outcome, and impact of health services at facility, sub-national, and national levels. However, if personal health information is not held confidentially and securely, individuals with communicable or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may be reluctant to use preventive or therapeutic health services, due to fear of being stigmatized or discriminated against. While policymakers and other stakeholders in these countries recognize the need to develop and implement policies for protecting the privacy, confidentiality and security of personal health information, to date few of these countries have developed, let alone implemented, coherent policies. The global HIV response continues to emphasize the importance of collecting HIV-health information, recently re-iterated by the Fast Track to End AIDS by 2030 program and the recent changes in the Guidelines on When to Start Antiretroviral Therapy and on Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV. The success of developing HIV treatment cascades in low- and middle-income countries will require the development of National Health Identification Systems. The success of programs like Universal Health Coverage, under the recently ratified Sustainable Development Goals is also contingent on the availability of personal health information for communicable and non-communicable diseases.DesignGuidance for countries to develop and implement their own guidelines for protecting HIV-information formed the basis of identifying a number of fundamental principles, governing the areas of privacy, confidentiality and security. The use of individual-level data must balance maximizing the benefits from their most effective and fullest use, and minimizing harm resulting from their malicious or inadvertent release.DiscussionThese general principles are described in this paper, as along with a bibliography referring to more detailed technical information. A country assessment tool and user's manual, based on these principles, have been developed to support countries to assess the privacy, confidentiality, and security of personal health information at facility, data warehouse/repository, and national levels. The successful development and implement...

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“…This implies that the intention for sharing information about a patient health status must be work related than any other thing (Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, 2014b). The health-care facilities, health-care practitioners and health-care insurance are responsible and accountable to protect patients' health information at all the times when the information is in their disposal (Beck et al, 2016;Beck et al, 2011). Several countries have a plenty of guidelines and regulations for confidentiality and security of HIV/AIDS information or any personal information pertaining to sharing, handling, access, roles and responsibilities, in both physical or paper-based or electronic format with consequences attached to security breaches for such information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011; Cohen and Ezer, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Confidentiality and security of information in the public health-care facilities to curb HIV/AIDS trauma among patients in Africa

Marutha

Mosweu

2020

GKMC

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Purpose This study sought to investigate a framework for ensuring the confidentiality and security of information at the public health-care facilities to curb HIV/AIDS trauma among patients in Africa. In most instances, trauma to HIV/AIDS patients accelerate because of their personal information relating to the state of illness leaks to public people. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used literature to study confidentiality and security of information at the public health-care facilities to curb HIV/AIDS trauma among patients in Africa. Findings The study revealed that confidentiality and security of information has been neglected, in most instances, at the health-care facilities, and this has, to some extent, affected HIV/AIDS patients negatively, leading to trauma, stigma and skipping of treatment by patients resulting in accelerated mortality among chronic patients. The study recommends that patients’ information be always strictly controlled and kept confidential and secured at all the times, especially that of HIV/AIDS patients. Practical implications The proposed framework can be used by health-care facilities to guide the management and promotion of the confidentiality and security of information in the public health-care facilities to curb additional trauma to HIV/AIDS patients in the context of Africa, and even beyond. Originality/value The study provides a framework to ensure the confidentiality and security of information at the public health-care facilities to curb additional trauma to HIV/AIDS patients.

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Protecting HIV information in countries scaling up HIV services: a baseline study

Cited by 6 publications

References 5 publications

Practices in security and confidentiality of HIV/AIDS patients’ information: A national survey among staff at HIV outpatient clinics in Vietnam

Practices in security and confidentiality of HIV/AIDS patients’ information: A national survey among staff at HIV outpatient clinics in Vietnam

Protecting the confidentiality and security of personal health information in low- and middle-income countries in the era of SDGs and Big Data

Confidentiality and security of information in the public health-care facilities to curb HIV/AIDS trauma among patients in Africa

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