Information Technology and the Need for Data Privacy: Implications to Security and Confidentiality in Health Research
Information Technology and the Need for Data Privacy: Implications to Security and Confidentiality in Health Research
It is inarguably true that information technology has significantly impacted the lives of humanity both in a positive and negative manner. To date, people relish the benefits e-commerce, e-learning, Nass, Levit and Gostein, 2009improved data records management of our personal information and the like. But the benefit of information technology system also comes with many risk. While information technology move people towards a more efficient lifestyle, it has also become a new portal to commit more crimes. Cybercrimes have become more and more pervasive. It is because of these scenarios that the need for data privacy becomes very relevant.
However, privacy is one of the most difficult concept to define because it is very subjective as to how a person gives value to it and perceives its relevance to himself (Nass, Levit and Gostin, 2009). In this study, the objective is to determine the significance of information technology vis-a-vis data privacy of personal information in the context of confidentiality and security to the success of a health research. Confidentiality prevents the disclosure of personal information lest it is authorized by the research subject. Security on the other hand is the methods employed to maintain the confidentiality of data. Security prevents unauthorize access and tampering of data, denial of services and physical harm of a system (Nass, Levit and Gostin, 2009). Thus, a breach in privacy also means a breach in confidentiality and security. Privacy may provide benefits to health research because participants are more likely engage in disclosing relevant information when they feel that their privacy is secured (Nass, Levit and Gostin, 2009).
According to Bukovich and colleagues (1999) the principles of confidentiality and security are both essential in maintaining a balance in information access and protecting the privacy interest of a patient. Their results suggests that technology can address 11 guiding principles of privacy that influences health research, access controls to relevant information, security in the maintenance and transport of medical record, audit trails, development of security and policy procedures, and new reasearch and information systems vis-a-vis privacy, security and confidentiality. But one cannot depend on technology alone because privacy, confidentiality and security must be stringently enforced.
Information technology has provided humans with various benefits, however information technology may also provide risks that would compromise sharing personal information. This indicates the need for data privacy. Privacy has no unified definition but can be associated in the context of security and confidentiality in health research. It can provide social benfits to health research because it encourages an informant to disclose a sensitive but relevant information. Privacy is protected when the level of security with the help of information technology although one is cautioned to not depend so much on technology alone. While medical data remains to be the most difficult to mine and analyze, there is a risk of exposing personal information when electronically stored health databases do not follow a specific format. It is in this regard that the level of protection and anonimity of healt data must be considered.
References
Buckovich, S. A., Rippen, H. E. and Rozen, M. J. (1999). Driving Toward Guiding Principles: A Goal for Privacy, Confidentiality and Security of Health Information. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 6(2):122-133.
Meingast, M., Roosta, T. and Sastry, S. (2006). Security and Privacy Issues with Health Care Information Technology. Proceedings of the 28th IEEE EMBS Annual International Conference New York City, USA, 30 Aug - 3 Sept (pp. 5453-5458).
Nass, S. J., Levit, L. A., Gostin, L.O., Eds. (2009). Beyond the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Enhancing Privacy, Improving Health Through Research. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009.
