Privacy concerns of patients and nurse practitioners in primary care--an APRNet study.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores and compares the privacy concerns of primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) and their patients.


METHODS
Privacy concerns were identified in separate focus groups of NPs and patients, and then parallel survey instruments were designed and administered to 27 NPs and 185 of their patients. All subjects were recruited through APRNet, a regional practice-based research network of NPs in southern New England encompassing 58 practices.


CONCLUSIONS
Both groups demonstrated high levels of concern regarding privacy. While NPs and patients had similar levels of concern about most issues, there were some notable differences regarding breeches because of carelessness, disclosures for research, and which disorders require the most care in maintaining privacy.


CONCLUSIONS
These results allow NPs to anticipate patient privacy concerns and to enhance trust in the clinical relationship. These results also indicate the need to educate patients regarding privacy rights and expectations.
Olsen
Douglas P
DP
Center for Health Care Policy and Ethics, Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06536, USA. douglas.olsen@yale.edu
Dixon
Jane Karpe
JK
Grey
Margaret
M
Deshefy-Longhi
Terry
T
Demarest
Jo Cecille
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D018907:Privacy / Q000523:psychology; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D014342:Truth Disclosure