Multidisciplinary view of INtimacy, PRIvacy and COnfidentiality (INPRICO) in local primary health care practices using the INPRICO rural survey during COVID-19: protocol for a cross-sectional descriptive study. (Preprint)

Abstract

Confidentiality is a fundamental right in health care, reaffirmed by the World Medical Association Declaration of Geneva. Every person has the fundamental right to privacy, intimacy and confidentiality.

To assess the perception of confidentiality, intimacy and privacy in primary health care (PHC), in local clinics and in a multidisciplinary context.

Cross-sectional descriptive study of PHC professionals and users in rural areas. An anonymous Likert scale survey (called INPRICO) will be applied and the answers will be digitised with Teleform©. Professionals and users’ perceptions will be compared by means of the INPRICO questionnaire.

This study investigates intimacy, privacy, and confidentiality in primary health care. A higher participation of women and the 45-64 age group is expected. With a higher age, a lower perception of privacy is expected. Differences will be found in genital intimacy and pandemic impact, but not in confidentiality. Users are likely to be more accepting of professionals' access to their data because of the pandemic. There will be no significant differences according to place of birth. In general, we believe that they will be of the opinion that it not necessary for the administrative team to have access to health data. This study provides relevant information on attitudes and perceptions of these aspects in primary health care.

Despite the sensitivity of the subject, there is a lack of exploration of this area. The INPRICO questionnaire can be a useful tool for assessing these aspects, but it needs to be validated. These aspects have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. More studies are needed to further investigate these aspects.