Using Technology and Protecting Patient Information and Confidentiality

Introduction

The healthcare sector has experienced a huge technical revolution because of technology integration. Even though the unquestionable benefits of technology in healthcare have brought a new era of patient care, the problem of patient information confidentiality poses great challenges. Supporters of a technology without limitation say that it can lead to better communication, more precise treatment through data analysis, and administrative process simplification. However, this digitalization may cause cybersecurity and the risk of data abuse to be adversely affected. Leakages either allow private medical records to be accessed or cause a person to unfair treatment, identity theft, and emotional trauma. Also, data governance can be a tool for third parties to take advantage of patients, which may lead to the patients losing trust in the healthcare system. Thus, building a just world where technology development and data protection are on the same level is essential.

The interface of technology and patients’ information security is vital as it has many aspects. The innovation of care coordination, diagnosis, and treatment could not be overemphasized, but this should not close our eyes to the security risks connected with them. The more technology in healthcare develops, the more the question of considering ethics becomes crucial. With the digitization and accessibility of patient information, the protection of patient privacy and consent for data sharing become the most vital issues. If the healthcare system lacks sound data governance policies, public trust may collapse, preventing patients from getting the necessary treatment. This topic is critical as it can define the direction of healthcare technology in the future. Through critically analyzing the existing practices and detecting shortcomings, researchers and policymakers can come up with effective strategies that will help to use technology’s benefits in the first place. Still, the security of patient data will be taken into account. That could entail cybersecurity protocols’ strengthening, data collection practices’ transparency promotion, and patients’ control over health information enhancement.

Scholarly Article

Basil, N. N., Ambe, S., Ekhator, C., & Fonkem, E. (2022). Health Records Database and Inherent Security Concerns: A Review of the Literature. Cureus, 14(10), e30168. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30168

The article focuses on the major data security problem in the context of electronic health record (EHR) systems. This research paper, which was applied to the EHR databases via a detailed literature review, emphasizes the security weaknesses of these databases. The report identifies some very serious security deficiencies. The authors highlight that the cost of information security in this context is high in ensuring the integrity of the patients’ information. The adoption of EHRs at scale has marked a revolutionary shift in the provision of healthcare services. With the internet’s evolution, data security has also emerged as one of the many challenges. The review focused on the existing literature and the emerging trends so as to discover what is being done and what is not being done. The study results show the importance of protecting the patient’s data by providing enough security in the EHR databases. The methodology of the research was based on the literature review approach. Given the increasing number of patients using their EHRs, the security flaws of these systems should be a matter of concern; therefore, knowledge is the key. Some allied health professionals can be very useful in locating possible threats to patient data. They will do this by using the methods that will allow them to keep the data safe. This can be achieved by developing strict security protocols and keeping detailed records of potentially harmful activities that may increase the chances of patient data leaks.

Liu, H., Crespo, R. G., & Martínez, O. S. (2020). Enhancing Privacy and Data Security across Healthcare Applications Using Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Concepts. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 8(3), 243. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8030243

This article is about the prospects of blockchain technology in healthcare in terms of privacy and data security. With blockchain technology, a distributed and encrypted ledger system can be created, which is the genesis of the patient data management revolution. The authors focus on the fact that this technology can improve data integrity and security and enable the patients to be more empowered in health care information management. The authors demonstrate their understanding of the blockchain features by analyzing the cases of its application in other industries. This way, they build a case in favor of the health data security benefits of blockchain. Blockchain technology offers allied health providers an avenue to explore new opportunities. It can be a crucial tool to elevate data security and allow patients to share their information safely with authorized healthcare professionals.

Zhang, P., & Kamel Boulos, M. N. (2022). Privacy-by-Design Environments for Large-Scale Health Research and Federated Learning from Data. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(19), 11876. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911876

The article stresses the significance of the evidence-based practice in allied health professions. EBP is a methodology with a structured research process that helps make caregivers’ decisions. In this process, Allied health professionals will perform a set of steps. They narrow down to a defined clinical question. In scenarios, for example, a patient might be inquiring about a case or a more general inquiry about the effectiveness of a treatment. The following stage involves a detailed literature search, where appropriate studies are found through scientific databases and journals. This is probably stressed in the article. This means the studies should be carefully examined regarding their quality and clinical application. ExamplesExamples of things that will be considered are the study design, the number of participants, and the data analysis methods used. After reviews of the studies, the findings are examined, and the various studies are weighed to determine the level of evidence for a specific intervention or approach. It helps allied health professionals stay current with the latest research findings and best practices in a constantly evolving healthcare field. EBP promotes transparency in patient care by allowing decisions to be justified by evidence. The article positions EBP as a cornerstone of competent and ethical practice within the allied health professions.

Ethical Considerations in Data Collection

Ethical research principles include the protection of the rights and privacy of the study subjects. Many studies suggest that ethics should be the first and foremost concern in data collection for research on technology and patient confidentiality. Informed consent, anonymity, and a high level of data security are the core components that are required to make the patients trust the system and not worry about their privacy. Nevertheless, the ethical frameworks are looked upon mainly with very little concern about the effectiveness of specific data security protocols for AHPs. The most important thing to note is that informed consent is prime importance. Patients must be provided with in-depth information about the kind of research, the potential benefits, risks, and how their data will be used. This data should be presented and in an understandable manner without using technical jargon (Polk & Page, 2022). The patients should be given enough time to ask questions and have their concerns answered before they are allowed to grant their consent without any questions. Force or coercion must not be considered in ethical research; participation must be a voluntary act made with thorough information. These measures help ensure that unauthorized access, wrongs, or misuse of sensitive individual data becomes a thing of the past. This, in turn, builds trust in the patients and the public, creating a platform for advancements that enhance healthcare without compromising patient privacy.

Data Analysis

Achieving a full view of data security with technology and personal information as a backdrop is a multidimensional task that needs different data analysis methods. The researcher will utilize the strengths of both statistical and qualitative methods to present the picture completely. Quantitative analysis focusing on numbers and measurements is the best method to determine the effectiveness of various security protocols (Polk & Page, 2022). This data will show us the patterns of patient attitudes toward data security rules, how comfortable they feel when sharing information, and their perception of the risks involved. Through statistical analysis, researchers can detect patterns and evaluate the role of various data security measures in patients’ trust and satisfaction (Maida et al., 2022).

Nevertheless, data security is not only about numbers but also about the human side, stories, and viewpoints. In this case, qualitative analysis will be the next stage. Interviews and focus groups are the methods that provide a chance to discuss patient thoughts and attitudes towards data security in detail.

Conclusion

The current study provides an adequate basis for ethical data collection and analytics procedures considering patient data security in AHPs. While the scientific approach may be effective, more studies are required to establish the effectiveness of such data security protocols in the real-world practice of allied health professions. By using the protocols that are implemented and evaluated, researchers can have the evidence-based instruments that AHPs will use to navigate through the technological era as patient data remains secure.

References

Basil, N. N., Ambe, S., Ekhator, C., & Fonkem, E. (2022). Health Records Database and Inherent Security Concerns: A Review of the Literature. Cureus, 14(10), e30168. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30168

Liu, H., Crespo, R. G., & Martínez, O. S. (2020). Enhancing Privacy and Data Security across Healthcare Applications Using Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Concepts. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 8(3), 243. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8030243

Maida, C. A., Xiong, D., Marcus, M., Zhou, L., Huang, Y., Lyu, Y., Shen, J., Osuna-Garcia, A., & Liu, H. (2022). Quantitative data collection approaches in subject-reported oral health research: a scoping review. BMC Oral Health, 22(1), 435. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-022-02399-5

Polk, S., & Page, K. R. (2022). Improving National Public Health Data Collection as an Act of Antiracism. American journal of public health, 112(8), 1104–1106. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306958

Zhang, P., & Kamel Boulos, M. N. (2022). Privacy-by-Design Environments for Large-Scale Health Research and Federated Learning from Data. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(19), 11876. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911876