Willingness to share personal health information: impact of attitudes, trust and control

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to explicate the behavioral factors that determine willingness to share personal health data for secondary uses.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical model is developed and tested with structural equation modeling using survey data from Finland.FindingsIt is shown that attitude toward information sharing is the strongest factor contributing to the willingness to share personal health information (PHI). Trust and control serve as mediating factors between the attitude and willingness to share PHI.Research limitations/implicationsThe measures of the model need further refinement to cover the various aspects of the behavioral concepts.Practical implicationsThe model provides useful insights into the factors that affect the willingness for information sharing in health care and in other areas where personal information is distributed.Social implicationsSharing of PHI for secondary purposes can offer social benefits through improvements in health-care performance.Originality/valueA broad-scale empirical data gives a unique view of attitudes toward sharing of PHI in one national setting.