Feasibility of a patient decision aid regarding disclosure of personal health information: qualitative evaluation of the Health Care Information Directive.
BACKGROUND
Concerns regarding the privacy of health information are escalating owing both to the growing use of information technology to store and exchange data and to the increasing demand on the part of patients to control the use of their medical records. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Health Care Information Directive (HCID), a recently-developed patient decision aid that aims to delineate the level of health information an individual is willing to share.


METHODS
We convened a series of four focus group meetings with several communities in a large Canadian city. A total of 28 men and women participated, representing health care consumer advocates, urban professionals, senior citizens, and immigrants who speak English as a second language. Data were analysed using qualitative methods.


RESULTS
Participants lacked substantial knowledge regarding the fate and uses of personal health information. They expressed mistrust concerning how their information will be used and protected. Several suggestions were made towards customizing the use of data according to specific needs rather than broad and full access to their charts. Furthermore, despite concern regarding the implementation of a tool like the HCID, participants were hopeful that a refined instrument could contribute to the improved regulation of health information.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicated poor knowledge concerning the uses of personal health information, distrust concerning security provisions, and cautious support for a patient decision aid such as the HCID to improve control over health data.
Tracy
C Shawn
CS
Primary Care Research Unit, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre 2075 Bayview Avenue, Room E3-49 Toronto, ON M4N 3M5 Canada. shawn.tracy@sw.ca
Dantas
Guilherme Coelho
GC
Upshur
Ross E G
RE
D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D030881:Disclosure; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D035502:Trust; D014505:Urban Population