Medical Information Confidentiality Research Paper

Medical Information Confidentiality - Research Paper Example The questionnaires were distributed in five primary care clinics. The receptionists in these clinics were requested to issue questionnaires to all the patents who visited the clinics. The survey was intended to run for three weeks and it was aimed at collecting 100 questionnaires (Whiddett et al. 532). Patients were requested to answer all the questions and put them in a collective box in the respective clinics. Alternatively, they could return them using pre-paid envelopes. The research team did not monitor the issuance of the questionnaires or make attempts to identify repeat respondents and non respondents (Whiddett et al. 532). This was the major limitation facing the exercise however; it did not impact on the findings as the sample size was adequate. The survey was representative enough as the clinics were chosen to represent a wide range of demographics. The questionnaire covered three key areas. These are basic demographics, attitudes towards sharing different kinds of informa tion and patients’ knowledge towards information sharing practices. Secondly, secondary data was used to complement the findings that were obtained from the survey. The information will be collected from a peer reviewed sources, credible internet sources and medical journals that have conducted similar studies. A comprehensive study of past case studies reveals that medical confidentiality in the health sector is at a risk of getting eroded due to the use of the current technology. The respondents are wary about sharing their personal information to various parties and the study reveals that most of them are not aware of the increasing information sharing practice in the medical field (Levenson 20). Data Collection Instrument: Questionnaire Tick the appropriate answer 1. My age is: 18 to 30 years 30 to 60 years Above 60 years 2. I am Male Female 3. My ethnicity or race? (Tick one) White Americans Black Americans Asian Americans Hispanic and Latino Americans Other 4. How much information do you have concerning those who can access your medical records? Nothing Something A lot 5. Are you aware of the NHI number? Nothing Something A lot 6. I am comfortable with confidential health information being shared between the following groups. Health administrators Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know Health professionals Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know Researchers Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know Other bodies (Insurers) Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know 7. I am comfortable with confidential health information being shared to the following groups as long as it does not contain my personal information. Health administrators Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know Health professionals Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know Researchers Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know Other bodies (Insurers) Yes Maybe, if consulted first No Don’t know Question Specificat ions The first question is important since it helps to establish the link between the age of the respondents and their level of awareness concerning confidentiality of medical information. In addition to, it helps to establish the age bracket that attends the clinics often. The second question concerning gender helps to determine the relationship between gender and attitudes towards medical information confidentiality. The third question is aimed at finding out the level of awareness about medical confidentiality (Whiddett et al. 534). It also gives information on varying attitudes across ethnic groups. In a nutshell, the first three questions are interested in determining the primary demographics which