European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PERCEPTIONS OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS TOWARDS NURSE S' PRACTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF MEDICAL INFORMATION S AMONG PATIENTS IN OLABISI ONABANJO TEACHING HOSPITAL SAGAMU

Ademola Shafiu Adewole*, Opeyemi Hamdallah Abolore, Olowolafe Abiodun Samuel, Bello Mufutau Ademola and Ositelu, Lateefat Abosede

ABSTRACT

Keeping patients information confidential and developing a trusting and friendly relationship with patients are among the professional conduct nurses owe the patient, the wider society and the nursing profession itself. This study: elicit the perception of hospitalized patients about nurses confidentiality of medical information; examine if Nurses practice confidentiality of medical information in patients' care; and correlate the socio–demographic characteristics of patients with their level of perception about Nurses' practice of confidentiality of medical information. This study was carried out using descriptive research design to assess the Perception of hospitalized patients towards nurses' practice of confidentiality of Medical information. The design help to described specific phenomenon and find relationship among variable discussed. The study targeted at the patient on hospitalization in all wards and special unit of at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu. Not – probability sampling technique and Yamane’s Formula was used to select 86 respondents from the two hospitals. The items of the questionnaire was derived from research objectives and a test and pre – test method was done to measure level of consistency of the instrument used and ensure reliability. The findings revealed that about 93% of the hospitalized patients have high level of perception toward nurses’ confidentiality. The study showed about 64% of the hospitalized patients proved that Nurses practice of confidentiality toward medical information in patients' care at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu. It was concluded that about 93% of the hospitalized patients affirmed high perception towards nurses' practice of confidentiality of medical information at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu. The study recommended that Nurses should ensure patients confidentiality and maintain patient comfort-ability and satisfaction with nursing care to the extent they will feel at home during the period of hospitalization.

Keywords: Confidentiality, Information, Nurses, Patient, Perception.