Patient Data Sharing and Confidentiality Practices of Researchers in Jordan

Figures & data

Table 5 Researcher’s and Institutional Data Sharing Practices

Practice	Always N (%)	Often N (%)	Usually N (%)	Rarely N (%)	Never N (%)
Researcher
Uses antivirus software	77 (75.5)	4 (3.9)	15 (14.7)	4 (3.9)	2 (1.9)
Data sent using web-based applications	16 (15.7)	18 (17.7)	22 (21.6)	12 (11.8)	33 (32.4)
Data destruction after completion of the study	31 (30.5)	23 (22.5)	14 (13.7)	14 (13.7)	33 (32.4)
Non-disclosure of patient information	94 (92.2)	1 (1)	7 (6.9)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
More controlling measures for sensitive data (by researcher)	41 (40.2)	13 (12.7)	20 (19.6)	13 (12.7)	11 (10.8)
Data used only for the approved research	89 (87.3)	2 (1.9)	10 (9.8)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Results sent to the IRB after conducting the research	26 (23.5)	16 (13.7)	21 (18.6)	8 (5.9)	29 (26.5)
Institution
Encryption of patients’ data	42 (41.2)	17 (16.6)	14 (13.7)	7 (6.9)	22 (21.6)
Patients de-identification	42 (41.2)	14 (13.7)	12 (11.8)	8 (7.9)	25 (24.5)
Monitoring of data extraction	59 (57.9)	12 (11.8)	16 (15.7)	12 (11.8)	5 (4.9)
Request an approval from the IRB for data release	77 (75.5)	7 (6.9)	15 (14.7)	1 (1)	2 (1.9)
More controlling measures for sensitive data (by IT department)	45 (44.1)	20 (19.6)	10 (9.8)	8 (7.9)	9 (8.8)
Provide only required data	32 (31.4)	12 (11.8)	19 (18.6)	22 (21.6)	13 (12.7)
Training of users to prevent unauthorized disclosure of patient data	48 (47)	10 (9.8)	18 (17.6)	9 (8.8)	17 (16.7)
Request signing a document to grant privacy and confidentiality of patient information before data release	52 (50.9)	6 (5.9)	20 (19.6)	4 (3.9)	20 (19.6)
Set a specific timeframe for data usage	40 (39.3)	13 (12.7)	25 (24.5)	5 (4.9)	18 (17.7)

Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of Study Participants

Variable	Participants (n= 102) (N (%)
Age (mean ± SD), years	40.9 ± 7.9
Years of experience (mean ± SD)	10.25 ± 7.0
Number of publications (mean± SD)	22.5 ± 47.2
Gender
Male	64 (62.7%)
Female	38 (37.3%)
Faculty
Nursing	17 (16.7%)
Dentistry	8 (7.8%)
Pharmacy	30 (29.4%)
Medicine	44 (43.1%)
Applied health sciences	3 (2.9%)
Degree
MSc	8 (7.8%)
PhD	86 (84.3%)
Board Specialty	8 (7.8%)
Studies where EHS was used
1–3	60 (58.8%)
4–6	23 (22.5%)
7-–10	10 (9.8%)
>10	9 (8.8%)

Table 2 Documents Required for Granting Access to EHRs

Document	Frequency (%)
IRB approval alone	15 (14.9)
IRB and DCF	56 (55.4)
IRB and RP	17 (16.8)
IRB, DCF, and RP	2 (2)
Other documents but not IRB	8 (7.9)

Abbreviations: IRB, Institutional Review Board approval; DCF, Data Collection Form; RP, Research proposal.

Table 3 Data Access and Storage Granted Personnel

Personnel	Data Access	Data Storage
	N (%)	N (%)
Researchers listed in the research proposal	92 (90.2)	84 (83.2)
Researchers not listed in the research proposal	4 (4)	2 (2)
Research assistants	34 (33.7)	39 (38.6)

Table 4 Patient’s Data Storage and Delivery Methods of the Conducted Research Utilizing EHR

Data Storage		Data Delivery
Method	N (%)	Method	N (%)
Institutions computer	52 (51.5)	Institutions computer	56 (54.9)
USB flash memory	32 (31.4)	USB flash memory	21 (20.8)
Email	12 (11.9)	Email	23 (22.8)
Personal laptop	71 (70.3)	Printouts or mobile phones	7 (6.8)