O-15 Patient confidentiality practices in Grenada: evidence to inform health system innovation

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 110 healthcare workers from public and private health facilities across Grenada. A 21-item self-administered questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to patient confidentiality. Descriptive statistics summarized practice patterns, while logistic and linear regression analyses explored associations between composite practice scores and selected demographic and professional variables.

Results: Overall adherence to confidentiality standards was high. Most participants reported never discussing patient information outside the workplace (80.9%) or allowing non-medical staff to be present during patient care (79.1%). However, informal discussions occurring outside examination rooms were reported “sometimes” by 31.8% of participants. Physical record security emerged as a key vulnerability, with only 40% of filing cabinets reported to have functional locks. No significant associations were found between confidentiality practice scores and years of experience or professional role.

Conclusion: Healthcare workers in Grenada demonstrate strong ethical awareness and generally sound confidentiality practices. Nevertheless, identified gaps in communication behaviors and record security highlight opportunities for health system innovation. Strengthening institutional protocols, integrating continuous ethics training, and advancing secure health information systems could enhance patient trust and support ongoing health system development in small island settings.