Patient privacy often compromised

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Patient privacy often compromised

Last Updated: 2004-06-25 16:26:32 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Will Boggs, MD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Breaches of patient confidentiality, many of

them inadvertent, are widespread, according to a report in the spring

issue of Health Communication.

" Physicians must realize that their routine activities can often

compromise patients' care, " co-author Dr. Brann from West Virginia

University, town, told Reuters Health. " Depending on who gains

access to this information, patients may lose their jobs, their

reputation may be jeopardized, or they may stop seeking care because of

the disclosure, which may affect their physical and mental health. "

Based on 51 interviews with patients, Dr. Brann and Dr. Marifran Mattson

from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana defined confidentiality

breaches as any communication of patient information involving

unauthorized persons, including anyone who did not have the patient's

overt or implied permission.

Most breaches (81 percent) occurred within the health care organization.

Only a minority involved conversations with friends or family or with

others outside the health care organization.

The researchers divided internal confidentiality breaches into four

categories: informal conversations among health care providers;

telephone conversations involving health care providers; dialogue

between health care providers and patients; and dialogue about a patient

between a health care provider and a nonpatient.

External confidentiality breaches included sharing confidential

information with families and sharing confidential information with

friends.

" This is an important topic for everyone involved in health care,

whether they be providers, administrators, or patients, " Brann pointed

out. " Individuals need to be aware of their surroundings when sharing

information with others. "

In fact, " the main message for physicians, " Mattson told Reuters

Health, " is to be more cognizant of when and where they are

communicating confidential patient information and to make sure this

information is only revealed to appropriate others in confidential

spaces. "

SOURCE: Health Communication, Spring 2004.

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