Patients' Perceptions of Electronic Medical Record Confidentiality in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47701/8434qm36Keywords:
Confidentiality, Electronic Health Records, Patients, Primary Health Care, PrivacyAbstract
Background: Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) have become an essential component of digital healthcare transformation, but their implementation also raises concerns regarding the confidentiality and protection of patients' personal health information. This study aimed to analyze patients' perceptions of EMR data confidentiality at Baki Community Health Center based on five dimensions: knowledge and understanding, service experience, trust in healthcare professionals, privacy policies and education, and data confidentiality. Methods: This descriptive quantitative study used a cross-sectional design involving 96 outpatients selected through quota sampling. The questionnaire consisted of 18 Likert-scale items distributed across five dimensions and was adapted from previous studies concerning electronic medical record confidentiality, health information privacy, patient trust, service experience, privacy policies, and data protection. The instrument was pilot-tested on 30 respondents. Item validity was assessed using Pearson Product-Moment correlation, while internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's Alpha. Descriptive statistics were used to present frequencies, percentages, and responses across the five dimensions. Results: All 18 items showed acceptable validity (item-total correlations 0.584–0.824, above the 0.361 critical value), with overall Cronbach's Alpha of 0.887 and dimension range 0.798–0.833, indicating satisfactory internal consistency. Respondents generally reported positive perceptions of EMR confidentiality across all five dimensions, particularly on protection of personal health information, though awareness of privacy policies and confidentiality rights still needs improvement. Conclusion: Patients at Baki Community Health Center generally reported positive perceptions regarding EMR data confidentiality. However, these findings reflect patients' perceptions and should not be interpreted as objective evidence of the technical or organizational security performance of the EMR system. Strengthening patient education and communication regarding privacy policies, data access, and confidentiality rights is recommended to improve patients' understanding and confidence in EMR management.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Shona’a Surya Alay’ya, Arifatun Nisaa, Julia Pertiwi
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