Survey: U.K. patients demand security for their records
Patients demand their medical records to be guaranteed against data theft and snooping, according to a survey from healthcare privacy auditing supplier Fair Warning.
The independent poll of 1,001 respondents showed that patients believe that hospital chief executives and managers should be held accountable for healthcare privacy protections and breaches, the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based company continued.
The survey revealed that confidentiality concerns could have a direct impact on people’s health. Thirty-eight percent of respondents have, or would have, put off seeking care for a sensitive medical condition due to privacy concerns. Many respondents stated they would travel substantial distances (37 percent would go 30 miles or more) to avoid being treated at a hospital they did not trust to keep sensitive information confidential.
In addition, 53.6 percent of respondents have, or would have, withheld information about a sensitive medical matter from a healthcare provider with a poor record of protecting patient privacy.
According to the survey, patients are worried that sensitive medical and personal information could be stolen and used by criminals for theft or fraud, or disclosed to employers or family – with serious consequences for their careers or relationships. Over 61 percent of respondents were 'very worried' or 'somewhat worried' that their identity could be used to commit fraud or used by criminals to target them, their family or home.
Most of those taking part in the poll had high expectations of what the National Health Services (NHS) should deliver in terms of confidentiality, wanting effective monitoring and firm enforcement of regulations. About 87 percent 'strongly agree' or 'somewhat agree' that the NHS should monitor who looks at their files.
The results also uncovered the thought that leaks and theft of personal data could do significant damage to the reputation of healthcare services; 86.5 percent thought a serious breach of personal data would do 'severe' damage to a hospital’s reputation. A large majority expected access to their records to be strictly controlled and want to see strong deterrents to prevent breaches. Seventy-three percent felt that better enforcement of rules and regulations would cut down on security breaches.
According to the report, 62.1 percent approved of having national tables that show the best and worst hospitals for data security; 9.7 percent disapproved of such practice.
A total of 41 U.K. respondents (over 4 percent) claimed their medical records had already been breached, the report found. Some respondents had information used against them in legal actions, had their identities stolen or suffered financially. However, 75.5 percent of the patients in the U.K. said they value electronic records as a way for clinicians to share information and keep it up-to-date, the report concluded.
The independent poll of 1,001 respondents showed that patients believe that hospital chief executives and managers should be held accountable for healthcare privacy protections and breaches, the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based company continued.
The survey revealed that confidentiality concerns could have a direct impact on people’s health. Thirty-eight percent of respondents have, or would have, put off seeking care for a sensitive medical condition due to privacy concerns. Many respondents stated they would travel substantial distances (37 percent would go 30 miles or more) to avoid being treated at a hospital they did not trust to keep sensitive information confidential.
In addition, 53.6 percent of respondents have, or would have, withheld information about a sensitive medical matter from a healthcare provider with a poor record of protecting patient privacy.
According to the survey, patients are worried that sensitive medical and personal information could be stolen and used by criminals for theft or fraud, or disclosed to employers or family – with serious consequences for their careers or relationships. Over 61 percent of respondents were 'very worried' or 'somewhat worried' that their identity could be used to commit fraud or used by criminals to target them, their family or home.
Most of those taking part in the poll had high expectations of what the National Health Services (NHS) should deliver in terms of confidentiality, wanting effective monitoring and firm enforcement of regulations. About 87 percent 'strongly agree' or 'somewhat agree' that the NHS should monitor who looks at their files.
The results also uncovered the thought that leaks and theft of personal data could do significant damage to the reputation of healthcare services; 86.5 percent thought a serious breach of personal data would do 'severe' damage to a hospital’s reputation. A large majority expected access to their records to be strictly controlled and want to see strong deterrents to prevent breaches. Seventy-three percent felt that better enforcement of rules and regulations would cut down on security breaches.
According to the report, 62.1 percent approved of having national tables that show the best and worst hospitals for data security; 9.7 percent disapproved of such practice.
A total of 41 U.K. respondents (over 4 percent) claimed their medical records had already been breached, the report found. Some respondents had information used against them in legal actions, had their identities stolen or suffered financially. However, 75.5 percent of the patients in the U.K. said they value electronic records as a way for clinicians to share information and keep it up-to-date, the report concluded.