PRIVACY CONSCIOUSNESS AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG FUTURE OPERATING ROOM PROFESSIONALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Öz
Background: Privacy is a fundamental ethical and legal principle in healthcare, especially in surgical settings where patients are physically and emotionally vulnerable. Ensuring privacy not only protects patient dignity but also enhances care quality and satisfaction. However, limited research has explored the privacy consciousness of future operating room professionals.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the levels of privacy consciousness among students enrolled in the Anesthesia and Operating Room Services programs and to identify the factors influencing their awareness.
Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Vocational School of Health Services, during the Spring semester of the 2024–2025 academic year. The sample included 178 second-year students who voluntarily participated. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form and the Privacy Consciousness Scale (PCS), which assesses self-privacy, awareness of others’ privacy, and privacy-maintaining behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 with descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses.
Results: Participants exhibited moderate to high levels of privacy consciousness (M = 3.9 ± 0.4). Female students and those with prior training on patient rights scored significantly higher (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between privacy scores and both age (r = 0.21, p = 0.005) and internship duration (r = 0.29, p = 0.001). No significant difference was found between program types.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of privacy education and clinical experience in shaping ethical awareness among future surgical staff. Integrating structured privacy training into vocational health curricula is essential for promoting ethical, patient-centered care.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Privacy consciousness vocational health education surgical ethics patient rights clinical ethics
Kaynakça
- Guraya, S. Y., Sulaiman, N., Hasswan, A., Salmanpour, V. A., Jirjees, F. J., Taha, M. H., ... & Mahmoud, I. E. (2025). Enhancing the understanding of safety and the quality of patient care among medical and health sciences students in interprofessional climate: an interventional study. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 156.
- Akyüz, E., & Erdemir, F. (2013). Surgical patients’ and nurses’ opinions and expectations about privacy in care. Nursing ethics, 20(6), 660-671.
- Avaner, E. (2018). What is privacy? How is the visibility of privacy from the health services window? Methods, 5(3), 110–116.
- Öztürk, H., Torun Kılıç, Ç., Kahriman, İ., Meral, B., & Çolak, B. (2021). Assessment of nurses’ respect for patient privacy by patients and nurses: A comparative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(7-8), 1079-1090.
- Capurro, R. (2005). Privacy: An intercultural perspective. Ethics and Information Technology, 7, 37–47.
- Demir, M. (2006). Sağlık ve Tıp Hukuku Mevzuatı Uluslararası Kaynaklar. Ankara: Turhan Kitapevi.
- Heinrich, M., & Gerhart, N. (2023). Privacy Education Effectiveness: Does It Matter?. Journal of information systems education, 34(1), 49-69.
- Bello, C. M., Eisler, P., & Heidegger, T. (2025). Perioperative Anxiety: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(5), 1422.
- Giddens, A. (2010). The Transformation of Intimacy: Sexuality, Love and Eroticism in Modern Societies (İ. Şahin, Trans.). İstanbul: Ayrıntı Publishing.
- Gkiolnta, E., Roy, D., & Fragulis, G. F. (2025). Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Implementing Assistive Technologies in Healthcare. Technologies, 13(2), 48.
- Heikkinen, A., Wickström, G., & Leino-Kilpi, H. (2006). Understanding privacy in occupational health. Nursing Ethics, 13, 5–9.
- Leino-Kilpi, H., Valimäki, M., Dassen, T., Gasull, M., Lemonidou, C., Scott, A., & Arndt, M. (2001). Privacy: A review of the literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 38, 663–671.
- Lemonidou, C., Merkouris, A., Leino-Kilpi, H., Valimaki, M., Dassen, T., Gasull, M., Scott, A., & Tafas, C. (2003). A comparison of surgical patients’ and nurses’ perceptions of patients’ autonomy, privacy, and informed consent. Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing, 7, 73–83.
- Jacobson, P. D., & Hoffman, R. E. (2003). Regulating public health: principles and applications of administrative law. In Law in public health practice (pp. 23-42). Oxford University Press, Inc. New York.
- Özata, M., & Özer, K. (2016). The evaluation of patient confidentiality implementations in the hospitals in the context of quality standards of the health: the case of Konya. International Journal of Social Science, 45, 11–33.
- Öztürk, D., Eyüboğlu, G., & Baykara, Z. G. (2019). Turkish validity and reliability of the Privacy Consciousness Scale. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Ethics-Law and History, 27(1), 57–64.
- Tabata, N., & Hirotsune, S. (2014). Development of the Privacy Consciousness Scale (PCS). Japanese Journal of Personality, 23(1), 49–52.
PRIVACY CONSCIOUSNESS AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG FUTURE OPERATING ROOM PROFESSIONALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Öz
Background: Privacy is a fundamental ethical and legal principle in healthcare, especially in surgical settings where patients are physically and emotionally vulnerable. Ensuring privacy not only protects patient dignity but also enhances care quality and satisfaction. However, limited research has explored the privacy consciousness of future operating room professionals.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the levels of privacy consciousness among students enrolled in the Anesthesia and Operating Room Services programs and to identify the factors influencing their awareness.
Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Vocational School of Health Services, during the Spring semester of the 2024–2025 academic year. The sample included 178 second-year students who voluntarily participated. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form and the Privacy Consciousness Scale (PCS), which assesses self-privacy, awareness of others’ privacy, and privacy-maintaining behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 with descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses.
Results: Participants exhibited moderate to high levels of privacy consciousness (M = 3.9 ± 0.4). Female students and those with prior training on patient rights scored significantly higher (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between privacy scores and both age (r = 0.21, p = 0.005) and internship duration (r = 0.29, p = 0.001). No significant difference was found between program types.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of privacy education and clinical experience in shaping ethical awareness among future surgical staff. Integrating structured privacy training into vocational health curricula is essential for promoting ethical, patient-centered care.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Privacy consciousness vocational health education surgical ethics patient rights clinical ethics
Etik Beyan
This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. Ethical approval was obtained under the protocol ID GO2025/1360 on April 16, 2025. All participants were informed about the purpose of the study, and informed consent was obtained prior to data collection. Participation was voluntary, and participants were assured of their right to withdraw at any time without any penalty. Data confidentiality and anonymity were strictly maintained throughout the study process.
Destekleyen Kurum
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Teşekkür
The authors would like to thank all participants, for generously sharing their ideas.
Kaynakça
- Guraya, S. Y., Sulaiman, N., Hasswan, A., Salmanpour, V. A., Jirjees, F. J., Taha, M. H., ... & Mahmoud, I. E. (2025). Enhancing the understanding of safety and the quality of patient care among medical and health sciences students in interprofessional climate: an interventional study. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 156.
- Akyüz, E., & Erdemir, F. (2013). Surgical patients’ and nurses’ opinions and expectations about privacy in care. Nursing ethics, 20(6), 660-671.
- Avaner, E. (2018). What is privacy? How is the visibility of privacy from the health services window? Methods, 5(3), 110–116.
- Öztürk, H., Torun Kılıç, Ç., Kahriman, İ., Meral, B., & Çolak, B. (2021). Assessment of nurses’ respect for patient privacy by patients and nurses: A comparative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(7-8), 1079-1090.
- Capurro, R. (2005). Privacy: An intercultural perspective. Ethics and Information Technology, 7, 37–47.
- Demir, M. (2006). Sağlık ve Tıp Hukuku Mevzuatı Uluslararası Kaynaklar. Ankara: Turhan Kitapevi.
- Heinrich, M., & Gerhart, N. (2023). Privacy Education Effectiveness: Does It Matter?. Journal of information systems education, 34(1), 49-69.
- Bello, C. M., Eisler, P., & Heidegger, T. (2025). Perioperative Anxiety: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(5), 1422.
- Giddens, A. (2010). The Transformation of Intimacy: Sexuality, Love and Eroticism in Modern Societies (İ. Şahin, Trans.). İstanbul: Ayrıntı Publishing.
- Gkiolnta, E., Roy, D., & Fragulis, G. F. (2025). Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Implementing Assistive Technologies in Healthcare. Technologies, 13(2), 48.
- Heikkinen, A., Wickström, G., & Leino-Kilpi, H. (2006). Understanding privacy in occupational health. Nursing Ethics, 13, 5–9.
- Leino-Kilpi, H., Valimäki, M., Dassen, T., Gasull, M., Lemonidou, C., Scott, A., & Arndt, M. (2001). Privacy: A review of the literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 38, 663–671.
- Lemonidou, C., Merkouris, A., Leino-Kilpi, H., Valimaki, M., Dassen, T., Gasull, M., Scott, A., & Tafas, C. (2003). A comparison of surgical patients’ and nurses’ perceptions of patients’ autonomy, privacy, and informed consent. Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing, 7, 73–83.
- Jacobson, P. D., & Hoffman, R. E. (2003). Regulating public health: principles and applications of administrative law. In Law in public health practice (pp. 23-42). Oxford University Press, Inc. New York.
- Özata, M., & Özer, K. (2016). The evaluation of patient confidentiality implementations in the hospitals in the context of quality standards of the health: the case of Konya. International Journal of Social Science, 45, 11–33.
- Öztürk, D., Eyüboğlu, G., & Baykara, Z. G. (2019). Turkish validity and reliability of the Privacy Consciousness Scale. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Ethics-Law and History, 27(1), 57–64.
- Tabata, N., & Hirotsune, S. (2014). Development of the Privacy Consciousness Scale (PCS). Japanese Journal of Personality, 23(1), 49–52.
Ayrıntılar
| Birincil Dil | İngilizce |
|---|---|
| Konular | Cerrahi Hastalıklar Hemşireliği |
| Bölüm | Araştırma Makaleleri |
| Yazarlar | |
| Yayımlanma Tarihi | 30 Haziran 2025 |
| Gönderilme Tarihi | 21 Mayıs 2025 |
| Kabul Tarihi | 28 Haziran 2025 |
| Yayımlandığı Sayı | Yıl 2025 Cilt: 3 Sayı: 2 |
