Privacy in the pharmacy environment: analysis of observations from inside the pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the extent to which pharmacist-patient conversations are private.


METHODS
Cross sectional.


METHODS
New York State, April to June 2007.


METHODS
No individual participants were enrolled; the study consisted of observations of the pharmacy environment and pharmacy patient-staff interactions.


METHODS
Measurement of privacy-related distances in the pharmacy.


METHODS
Distance between patients at the pharmacy counter and staff behind the counter, distance between patient waiting area and pharmacy counter, and distance that a pharmacy counter conversation was audible.


RESULTS
Observational data were recorded from 597 pharmacy staff-patient interactions in 282 pharmacies across New York State. Of the 597 interactions, 167 occurred while a second patient was within 6 ft. Of the 282 pharmacies, pharmacy staff-patient conversations were audible to observers more than 6 ft away in 229 pharmacies; 142 could be heard more than 15 ft away.


CONCLUSIONS
Most staff-patient conversations in the pharmacy setting are not private and, as a result, have a high potential for incidental protected health information disclosures.
Bednarczyk
Robert A
RA
School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
Nadeau
Jessica A
JA
Davis
Christopher F
CF
McCarthy
Andrew
A
Hussain
Shazia
S
Martiniano
Robert
R
Lodise
Thomas
T
Zeolla
Mario M
MM
Coles
F Bruce
FB
McNutt
Louise-Anne
LA
D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D018907:Privacy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations