Nurses’ understanding of their duty of confidentiality to patients in mental health care: A qualitative exploratory study

Background

There are significant personal repercussions for patients, and professional, legal, financial, or reputational repercussions for stakeholders, when confidential patient information is mishandled by nurses working in mental health care. Education and guidance would be helpful for nurses, to address any knowledge or practice gaps related to their duty of confidentiality to patients, but there is limited empirical literature exploring their understanding of this important area of nursing practice to guide these interventions.

Aim

To explore nurses’ understanding of their duty of confidentiality to patients in mental health care.

Methods

Theoretical thematic analysis employing a deductive approach to coding of interview data.

Findings

Nurses have a general knowledge of the concept of confidentiality and its rules, but this knowledge is often incomplete or incorrect. Nonetheless, they recognise and prioritise patients’ interests when considering how confidential information should be handled, whilst also demonstrating awareness of potential risks to patients if their mental health information becomes known to others.

Discussion

Nurses’ understanding of their duty of confidentiality is based on information and knowledge that is incomplete or incorrect. However, in general, they are genuinely motivated to protect the interests of patients and other stakeholders. Several key knowledge and practice gaps that would benefit from education and guidance have been identified. Addressing these gaps should lead to improvements in nurses’ handling of confidential patient information.

Conclusion

Confidentiality is an integral element of good mental health care. Findings from this qualitative exploratory study will lead to the development of nurse education and guidance that will assist nurses to thoroughly understand the duty of confidentiality they owe to their patients. Consequently, these findings have the potential to safeguard patients against the mishandling of their personal information by nurses and protect other stakeholders (including nurses) from consequential, personal, professional, legal, or financial repercussions. Further research in this area of practice would also enhance the findings of this study.