Attitudes of First-year Medical Students Toward the Confidentiality of Computerized Patient Records
- Corresdpondence and reprints: Luke Davis, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Eskind Biomedical Library, The Informatics Center, Room 436, 2209 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232-8340. e-mail: 〈luke.davis{at}mcmail.vanderbilt.edu〉
- Received 20 July 1998
- Accepted 18 September 1998
Abstract
Objectives To investigate the attitudes of students entering medical school toward the confidentiality of computerized medical records.
Design First-year medical students at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine responded to a series of questions about a hypothetic breach of patient's privacy through a computerized patient record system.
Measurements The individual authors independently grouped the blinded responses according to whether they were consistent with then-current institutional policy. These preliminary groupings were discussed, and final categorizations were made by consensus.
Results While most students had a sense of what was right and wrong in absolute terms, half the class suggested at least one course of action that was deemed to be inconsistent with institutional policies.
Conclusions The authors believe that medical schools should directly address ethical and legal issues related to the use of computers in clinical practice as an integral part of medical school curricula. Several teaching approaches can facilitate a greater awareness of the issues surrounding technology and medicine.
