Evaluation Of Confidentiality Of Patient Health Records Among Hospital Staff
[A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TEACHING HOSPITAL ILORIN KWARASTATE]

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Health record is the back bone of healthcare delivery and its primary purpose is to document the course of patient’s health care and provide a medium of communication among health care professionals for current and future use. To fulfill these purposes, significant amount of data must be revealed and recorded. More so, the quality of information shared with health care professionals depends on their ability to keep it confidential. Otherwise, the patient may withhold critical information, which may affect the quality of the care provide.

Confidentiality is the basis of legal aspect of health records, is the ethical cornerstone of good treatment and its indeed essential for establishing trust between clinicians and patients. It is often used interchangeable with privacy in reference to medical data, but their meanings are distinct. By definition, privacy in health care is the protection of a patient from any disclosure of personal health data, by providing security to the patient and the patient health records. Whereas confidentiality is the limiting of information to only those for whom it is appropriate.In other words, it is the restrictive use of information obtained from about a patient.

Confidentiality benefits patients by providing a secure environment in which they are most likely to seek medical care and to give full and frank account of their illness. It expresses respect for patient’sautonomy i.e. people have a right to choose who will have access to information about them and a rule of confidentiality for medical practice reassures patients that they can determine who will be privy to their secrets. To the healthcare industry,it supports public confidence and trust in healthcare service more generally.

It is policy in most states to regulate to some degree at least, the ability of the physician to disclose information relating to his patient.He is prohibited against his testimony in court, the physician patient privilege is statutory created prohibition which prevents a physician who attends to a patient from testifying in a court or similar proceeding about the diagnosis, care or treatment that he rendered to the patient unless the patient consents to such testimony or by his conduct, waives the communication between practitioner and patient. The communication is called confidential. The privilege has been applied to nurses and it generally applies to hospital records. The privilegeexists and it has been justified legally because society feels that patients ought to be secured in disclosing information to their physicians so that the physicians will be able to treat them fully.

Indeed, there are special relationship which the law provide lawyer- client, clergyman- parishioner, journalist information and so forth. However, majority of the state now have statutory provision or rules of court proceeding designed to protect the confidential information between a patient and physician by prohibiting the physician’s testimony in court. The protection varies considerably. A majority of the state with such status limit the privilege in regard to the nature of the information protected and the kind of legal proceeding in which it applies.

With reference to the nature of the information, most states limit the protection to that which is acquired professionally and is necessary to enable the physician to treat the patient. Other states limit the protection even further. In Pennsylvanian for example, the privilege applies to information which would tend to “blacken the character” of the patient. With reference to the kind of proceeding, many states limit the privilege to civil and criminal actions. Some states impose the prohibition only on physicians, some on those who assist the doctors. California, for example applies its restriction to a licensed physician, or surgeon, and his nurses, x-ray and laboratory technicians, and pharmacist whose knowledge and information concerning the patient was acquired by order of the physician or surgeon. It is important to remember that, the privilege is not absolute and is not uniform. Each records specialist should know the language of the privilege and the extent of its application.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

On the patient case folder, it is boldly written “not to be handle by patient or patient relatives” but most often than not, the patient/relatives and third party who are not authorized legally to handle patient case folder are found handling patient records contrary to what has been boldly written. This practice is unethical in nature because it serves as an outlet through which patient information leaks to an unauthorized person.

It is in the light of this that prompted the researcher to find out why the practice and to proffer possible solution to it. 

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

BROAD OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the effectiveness of confidentiality of patient health records among hospital staff of  

university of ilotin teaching hospital. 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1 To identify the measures that put in place for maintaining confidentiality of patient health records in the hospital.

2 To identify the level of awareness of confidentiality of patient health records among the hospital staff.

3 To find out the level of confidentiality towards the securing of patient health records. 

4 To examine the attitude of the hospital staff towards confidentiality of patient health records.

5 To make recommendation based on the research.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research work will help in identifying the need for confidentiality of patients records in the hospital which will then enlighten the health information personnel, physicians and other health care provider on the importance of maintaining confidentiality of health record in the hospital. More also it will create awareness in health workers to maintain confidentiality of health records, and safes the hospital the embarrassment of medico legal issues.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION

1 What are the measures put in place in maintaining confidentiality of patient health records in the hospital?

2 What is the level of confidentiality towards securing of patient health records?

3 what is the attitude of hospital staffs towards confidentiality of patient’s health records?

4 Is there any awareness about confidentiality of patient health records among hospital staff?

5 What are the recommendation that can enhance effectiveness of confidentiality of patient health records in the hospital?

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work concentrated on the effectiveness of confidentiality of patient health records among hospital staff, and moreover the project work was centered on University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin- Kwara State.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraints and time are the major problems faced by the researcher. i.e sharing time between academic work and project writing.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Confidentiality: This is an act of preventing unauthorized person from having access to patient`s information

Health Records: Is a collective of data compile on a patient to assist in clinical care of present and future illness.

Hospital: Is a place where ailment is diagnosed and treatment is given to sick people

Subpoenia: A summon that brings cases to court.

Suit: It is an action of process in a court of law for the recovery of a right or claim.

Homicide: This is an act of killing another person.