The challenges of maintaining patient confidentiality in pediatric settings

Abstract

PurposeThe study investigated challenges encountered by healthcare professionals in complying with the duty of confidentiality in a pediatric department. Design and methodsIn this qualitative study, we conducted two focus group interviews with healthcare professionals from two pediatric departments in Denmark using the methodology described by Kvale and Brinkmann. ResultsWe identified three challenges related to maintaining confidentiality. 1) Time pressure and physical surroundings in the clinical setting. 2) Communication challenges (where and with whom). 3) Navigation in the clinical setting to uphold privacy. In general, nurses and physicians struggle to maintain patient confidentiality in a setting where sensitive information is shared quickly. ConclusionPediatric nurses and physicians experience challenges related to patient confidentiality that impact their clinical practice. These challenges relate to privacy and dignity and communicating with children and their parents. Practice implicationsBuilding design or renovation of pediatric departments should underpin confidentiality and privacy issues. Our study makes an important and novel contribution to existing knowledge regarding healthcare professionals' experiences in maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.