title: Knowledge, attitudes and practice of confidentiality of patients' health records among health care professionals at Federal Medical Centre, Bida.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The quality of information shared with health care professionals depends on their ability to keep it confidential especially in this information technology age when unguided access is imminent. In view ofthis, the study described knowledge, attitude and practice of confidentiality of patients' health records amongst health care professionals at Federal Medical Centre Bida, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semi-structured self-administered.questionnaire on the subject was administered to 313 health professionals chosen by stratified random sampling in the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority (161, 66.8%) of the participants were less than ten years in practice. Virtually, all (232, 96.3%) have heard about confidentiality mostly from schools (134, 55.6%), on-the-job (61, 25.3%) and from multiple sources (18, 7.5%). On responsibility for confidentiality; only 35 (14.5%) knew it is the responsibility of every health professional, while the majority; 117 (48.5%) felt it was exclusively meant for health information management professionals. Responses to issues on confidentiality range from 58.1% (revelation of documented next of kin to relatives of dead patients by staff) to 94.2% (employing the service of untrained interpreter). Very few (28, 11.6%) argued that confidentiality and privacy are not synonymous. Recommendations given to improve the practice of confidentiality include among others, observance of good health records practice by all professionals/stakeholders, continuing sensitisation of all staffandsanction against erring staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although, most professionals were aware of confidentiality, there appears a gap of in-depth knowledge and lack of awareness of respective responsibility towards it. However, they will do better if given the enabling environment and continuing education on the subject.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Information, Federal Medical Centre, Bida. ibratadeleke_aliscyin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Adeleke
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adekanye
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Adefemi
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Onawola
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Okuku
authors.forename: E U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Sheshi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: James-Adeniran
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: T R O
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Elegbe
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ayeni
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tume
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003219:Confidentiality; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult