Patient confidentiality within the context of group medical visits: is there cause for concern?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Group medical visits (GMVs), clinical encounters with a medical component delivered to groups of patients, have emerged as an innovative approach to potentially increasing efficiency while enhancing the quality of primary health care (PHC). GMVs have created the need to pay explicit attention to patient confidentiality.

Objective

What strategies are used by providers and patients to address issues of confidentiality within GMVs?

Design

In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 PHC providers and 29 patients living in nine rural communities in British Columbia, Canada. Data were analysed using interpretive thematic analysis and a relational autonomy approach.

Results

We found three main themes: (i) choosing to disclose: balancing benefits and drawback

SUBMITTER: Wong ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5060870 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature