A study on factors influencing privacy concerns and protective responses in healthcare services

The primary objective of this study is to determine the levels of individuals' concern about health information privacy, the factors influencing this concern, and the protective behaviors that may be displayed due to concerns about information privacy, along with the factors influencing these behaviors. Additionally, one of the aims is to adapt a Turkish measurement tool for these objectives. The study consists of four parts. In the first part, concepts of privacy and privacy concerns, as well as potential causes of these concerns, are discussed according to national and international literature. In the second part, the methodology of the study is explained, and the measurement tool used is introduced. The third part presents the findings of the statistical analyses conducted in line with the objectives of the study. In the final part, the obtained findings are discussed, and recommendations are developed. In this study, the Turkish adaptation of the information privacy concern scale and survey forms obtained from related literature were used as data collection tools. Data was collected from a total of 692 participants in the province of Ankara during the data collection process. Validity and reliability analyses of the obtained data were conducted. Descriptive statistical methods and logistic regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The study's findings indicate protective behaviors such as the tendency to withhold information and postpone health services due to concerns about the confidentiality of personal health information among participants. The study reveals that information privacy concern consists of four dimensions: information collection, information error, unauthorized access, and secondary use. According to the findings, there is a relationship between individuals' information collection concern and their behavior of withholding information from doctors and health institutions. Information collection concern leads individuals to disclose less of their personal health information, increasing the likelihood of information withholding. Moreover, information collection concern increases the behavior of intentionally providing incorrect health information to their doctors and also increases the likelihood of delaying or not obtaining health services. It has been determined that experiences of privacy violations and exposure to news of privacy violations in the media affect individuals' concerns and behaviors. Individuals who believe their health information has been violated before show an increased likelihood of information collection concern, information withholding, withholding information from doctors and health institutions, requesting doctors not to record information about them, and requesting another diagnosis to be written. Trust in patient-doctor communication and technological mechanisms has been found to play a significant role in concerns related to health information and protective behaviors. Participants who have good communication with their doctors are more concerned about the secondary use of their health information, but their likelihood of delaying or not obtaining health services is lower. Additionally, individuals feeling competent in understanding and using the internet and information technologies increases their concern about the secondary use of health information. Contrarily, participants who rated the quality of health service highly have been found to have lower probabilities of information collection concern. The findings of this study emphasize the need to strengthen information privacy policies in health services and develop communication strategies.