THE INTERPLAY OF KNOWLEDGE, CULTURE AND SYSTEMS ON PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENTS’ MEDICAL INFORMATION: PERSPECTIVE OF NURSES IN GHANA
Back to Page
Authors: Lily Obenewaa Asare, Peter Draper, Janet Kelly
Keywords: privacy, confidentiality, nurses and midwives, patient's medical information
Abstract: Privacy and confidentiality in healthcare is a long-standing issue of global concern. Efforts are being made to safeguard patients’ privacy and confidentiality with the use of technology and codes of conduct, yet it remains a challenge in Ghana. This study investigated the interplay of knowledge, culture and systems on privacy and confidentiality from the nurses’ perspective. The study employed a mixed-method research design using quantitative and qualitative approaches to solicit information from 415 nurses and midwives selected from public and mission hospitals in three geographical zones. The qualitative methods utilised participant observations, interviews and focus group discussions with vignettes. The survey questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. Vignettes were presented as case studies and interviews analysed thematically. A descriptive statistics and crosstabs of dependent variables against independent variables were analysed using a Chi-square test. The Chi-square tests show no significant difference in knowledge and understanding of privacy, confidentiality and adherence to policy and regulation in relation to gender. Overall, nurses and midwives have an idea of what privacy and confidentiality is about and their level of understanding improves with the advancement in academic career and grade. Yet due to systems challenges, social and cultural factors, the full application of standard code of practice to ensure privacy and confidentiality is often impeded with a halo effect. The study presents a new dimension to the epistemology of privacy and confidentiality and demonstrates that effective protection of patients’ medical information is intimately link to knowledge, culture and systems.