Digital Data Security Awareness: A Study with Pharmacy Students

Year 2022, Volume: 47 Issue: 2, 193 - 200, 01.08.2022

Nilay Tarhan

Abstract

Technological developments lead to changes in the field of health
as well as in many areas. Although these developments bring many
advantages, there are also some potential risks. Increments in digital
healthcare and digitally stored information raise concerns about
data security. It is vital for pharmacists and pharmacy students to
be aware of data security, considering patient rights and ethical
principles. This study investigates the digital data security awareness
of pharmacy students and the effects of some variables on it. In this
context, a questionnaire was applied to pharmacy students, including
the “Digital Data Security Awareness Scale” developed by Yılmaz,
Şahin, & Akbulut (2015). Firstly, exploratory factor analysis was
performed on the data obtained, and then the effects of some variables
on digital data security awareness were investigated via t-test and
analysis of variance. Digital data security awareness is found to be
higher in those who have an antivirus program on their smartphones.
Additionally, it was determined that the mean of the responses given
by the students to the statements on the scale was around three. As
a result, the awareness of pharmacy students on this issue needs to be
improved.

Keywords

Data security, pharmacy practices, ethics

References

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