An assessment of health information systems through the perspective of computer engineering students and medical students

Abstract

Introduction: Computer Engineering Students (CES) and Medical Students (MS) will actively participate in the management of health information system in the future. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the views of CES and MS about the patient privacy and security of health information systems. Methods: The participants of this cross-sectional study were the 3rd and 4th year CES of Marmara University, (n=163, F/M:71/92) and the 5th and 6th year MS of Marmara University (n=65, F/M:38/27). The data were collected via questionnaire comprising questions and statements about patient information security and confidentiality. Responses were prepared on the basis of 5 Point Likert Scale. Results: During the assessment of the questionnaires, it was observed that the statement “Health records should be accessible to the other health workers besides the physician” discomforted more CES (93,3%) than MS (78,5%) (p=0.003). A similar proportion was observed about “On-line communication with the physician” more CES (87,1%) prefer to communicate with the physician via electronic media than do the MS (66,2%) (p=0.001). Another significant point to be noted about the questionnaire results was that slightly more CES (40,5%) favor restrictions on the accessibility of “personal correspondance information” than MS (35,4%) (p>0.05). Conclusion: In the future, CES, who will be both internal and external stakeholders of the multi-disciplinary structure of healthcare management, thought that problems regarding security and privacy may occur. Therefore, the relation between health information system and the occupational education and training of CES and MS are extremely important through the perspective in healthcare management. © 2019 Esra Sevimli, Elif Naz Altingoz, Nur Şisman Kitapci, Okan Cem Kitapci, Leyla Koksal, Meral Yay, Pınar Kilic Aksu, Gonca Mumcu