P-10 Securing Health Information: A Study of Patient Privacy in Guyana's HIV Care and Treatment Facilities
Author(s):
T Jagnarine
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective:
• To Examine existing procedures regarding patient privacy, confidentiality, and patient health information security in selected healthcare facilities while assessing. Training Components on privacy and confidentiality.
• To Capture the perspectives of healthcare staff and patients on issues related patient privacy, confidentiality and personal health information (PHI) handling while documenting gaps or challenges in the current framework of patient privacy, confidentiality, and PHI security.
To investigate how HIV stigma influence breaches in patient confidentiality and affect the overall patient privacy environment.
Methods: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study assessed patient privacy, confidentiality, and PHI security in Guyana's healthcare facilities. Five diverse facilities were selected, involving healthcare staff and patients. Quantitative data on training evaluations and privacy perceptions were gathered through surveys, while qualitative insights were obtained via interviews and focus group discussions. Ethical considerations were observed, and data were analyzed statistically and thematically. The study acknowledges limitations, including potential bias and constraints in sample size, and emphasizes the importance of these findings for informing healthcare policies.
Results: The study's findings, based on interviews, group work sessions, and feedback from 179 participants, reveal significant challenges to patient privacy and confidentiality in healthcare settings. Patients and healthcare staff identified issues related to the physical layout of treatment sites, process-related problems, patient records, and staff behaviour. Notably, the lack of private spaces, the labeling and visibility of HIV-related services, and the absence of standardization in patient forms were identified as areas needinf improvement.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study's findings ighlight critical challenges in patient privacy and confidentality and offer a comprehensive set of reccomendations to address there issues. Implementing these recommendations will contribute to ma respectful and secure healthcare environment for all patients, regardless of their health conditions.