Neonatal Nurse's Professional Self-concept and Behavior to Protect Patient Privacy

Yu, Mi; Kim, Miok

Abstract

PURPOSE
With the rapid increase in information technology in the medical environment, protection of patient's privacy is a crucial issue to hospital nurses. The purpose of this study was to determine neonatal nurses' perception and performance of behavior to protect patient privacy, and professional self-concept, and to investigate the relationships among these variables.
METHODS
The participants in this descriptive correlation study were 182 nurses in nursery and neonatal intensive care units using EMR or OCS in November, 2011.
RESULTS
Perception and performance averaged 4.61 and 4.04 (out of 5) respectively, and the average score for professional self-concept was 2.73 (out of 4). There was a significant difference between perception and performance. The performance of behaviour to protect patient privacy had a positive correlation with perception and professional self-concept. Multiple regression analysis showed that the key determinants of performance were recognition of necessity of patient privacy education, professional self-concept and perception, and these explained 36% of the total variance of performance.
CONCLUSION
Study results indicate a need to establish policy to protect privacy of neonates and their families, and to develop educational programs to enhance neonatal nurses' perception and performance.