Patients' knowledge and expectations of confidentiality in primary health care: a quantitative study.

Abstract

Patients and health professionals differ in their understanding of the meaning of confidentiality. We investigated this by sending a postal questionnaire to 1000 patients asking their opinions on who does and who should have access to their medical records. Analysis of 756 replies showed that patients have clear opinions as to who should have access to their records, with a substantial minority wishing to restrict it.