[The Comparison of the Difference Between the Emphasis on and the Receipt of Patient Privacy in the Hospital Setting].
BACKGROUND
Privacy is a unique privilege for humans. Enhancing the balance between the importance given to patient privacy and the receipt of this privacy by patients is one key approach to improving the relationship between patients and the hospital.


OBJECTIVE
This study compared the difference between the importance of patient privacy and receipt of this privacy by patients as a reference for future patient privacy policy planning.


METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional design. We randomly sampled three hospitals in northern Taiwan and investigated patients using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was self-designed and verified for reliability and validity. We used frequency and percentage to describe demographic data and used a t-test to compare the deviation between the emphasis on and receipt of patient privacy.


RESULTS
There were 296 valid samples in this study and the effective rate was 84.57%. The highest degree of importance was information privacy and the lowest was physical privacy. Physical privacy (t = 3.04, p < .001) and mental privacy (t = 2.42, p < .01) exhibited significant differences between emphasis and receipt. Demographic data on gender, age, education level, marital status, and occupation. Type of hospital and ward level correlated with the emphasis and receipt of privacy.


CONCLUSIONS
The importance of privacy for physical and mental wellbeing was higher than the actual receipt of this privacy among the patient sample. The importance of privacy for married individuals and young women with high education levels was higher, while males and less-educated individuals scored lower in terms of privacy receipt. Medical agencies must provide higher levels of physical and mental privacy in order to enhance patient satisfaction.
Department of Nursing, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
Chiu-Kuel
CK
Li
School of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing, Taiwan, ROC. evalin@ntunhs.edu.tw.
Chiou-Fen
CF
Lin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028701:Patient Rights; D018907:Privacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
inpatients; privacy; right