A study in Journal of Medical Internet Research investigated whether increasing concerns about healthcare breaches have impacted patient disclosure of health information.
The researchers, led by Daniel M. Walker, PhD, of Columbus-based Ohio State University College of Medicine, analyzed what factors were associated with the likelihood of withholding health information from a provider, with an emphasis on data related to privacy and security concerns.
When considering the effect of privacy and security concerns on withholding health information, the researchers found no difference between 2011 and 2014. However, they found that perceived high quality of care was associated with patients being less likely to withhold health information from their provider across the research period.
"These findings are counter to the ongoing discussions about the implications of security failures in other domains," the researchers concluded. "Our results suggest that providers could ameliorate privacy and security by focusing on the care quality benefits EHRs provide."