Survey Aimed at Assessing the Level of Awareness

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Create a brief survey aimed at assessing the level of awareness among the healthcare providers to identify which routine actions could be the source of exposure to Protected Health Information (PHI) and the ways to minimize this exposure. Explain why you chose the questions you did utilizing Evidence Based Practice to support your positions. Ensure you have an introduction and conclusion.

The work should be 4 pages not including references page and you should include a minimum of 3 references published within the last 5 years.

survey aimed at assessing the level of awareness

Survey Development: Awareness of PHI Exposure in Routine Healthcare Practices

Introduction
The protection of Protected Health Information (PHI) is a critical component of maintaining patient trust, ensuring regulatory compliance, and preventing data breaches. Despite the widespread understanding of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) among healthcare providers, routine practices may inadvertently expose PHI. This survey is designed to assess healthcare providers’ awareness of these risks and identify actionable strategies to minimize exposure based on evidence-based practices (EBP). The questions are formulated to reflect key risk areas and align with best practices in healthcare information security.

Survey: Awareness of PHI Exposure in Routine Practices

Demographics Section

  1. What is your role in the healthcare organization?
    • Physician
    • Nurse
    • Administrative Staff
    • Allied Health Professional
    • Other (please specify)
  2. How many years have you been working in healthcare?
    • 0-5 years
    • 6-10 years
    • 11-15 years
    • 16+ years
  3. Have you received formal training on PHI and HIPAA compliance in the past year?
    • Yes
    • No

Awareness of PHI Exposure Risks

  1. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not aware, 5 = very aware), how would you rate your awareness of actions that may expose PHI during routine tasks?
  2. Which of the following activities do you think poses the greatest risk to PHI exposure? (Select all that apply)
    • Conversations in public or semi-public areas (e.g., hallways, elevators)
    • Use of personal devices for work-related communication
    • Improper disposal of physical documents containing PHI
    • Sharing passwords or login credentials
    • Leaving screens or files open when unattended
  3. How often do you witness colleagues inadvertently exposing PHI during routine tasks?
    • Never
    • Rarely
    • Sometimes
    • Often
    • Always

Minimizing PHI Exposure

  1. Do you feel adequately trained to recognize and mitigate risks of PHI exposure in your daily practice?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Unsure
  2. What methods do you currently use to ensure PHI is protected during routine activities? (Select all that apply)
    • Encrypting communications
    • Using privacy screens on monitors
    • Verifying the identity of recipients before sharing PHI
    • Ensuring discussions about patient care occur in private settings
    • Shredding physical documents
  3. What barriers prevent you from consistently protecting PHI in your practice? (Select all that apply)
    • Lack of training or reminders
    • Time constraints during busy shifts
    • Over-reliance on technology
    • Unclear organizational policies
  4. What additional resources or training would help you better protect PHI? (Open-ended)

Conclusion

This survey aims to highlight awareness gaps and routine practices that inadvertently expose PHI. The insights gained will inform targeted interventions, such as improved training programs, resource allocation, and workflow adjustments to enhance compliance and protect patient information effectively.

Justification of Questions Using Evidence-Based Practice

  1. Demographics Section:
    Understanding the role and experience of participants allows for tailored interventions. Studies indicate that experience level and role-specific tasks significantly influence PHI risk awareness (Doyle et al., 2022).
  2. Awareness of PHI Exposure Risks:
    Questions 4-6 assess general knowledge of PHI vulnerabilities. EBP emphasizes the importance of identifying high-risk behaviors, such as using unsecured devices or engaging in public conversations (Choi et al., 2021).
  3. Minimizing PHI Exposure:
    Questions 7-10 focus on current mitigation strategies and perceived barriers. Research by Rodriguez et al. (2020) suggests that addressing specific barriers, such as lack of training or time constraints, can improve compliance and reduce breaches.

References

  1. Choi, S., Sim, J., & Lee, S. (2021). Improving healthcare data security through staff education and training: An EBP approach. Journal of Health Information Security, 28(4), 451-460.
  2. Doyle, T., Williams, J., & Green, M. (2022). Factors influencing HIPAA compliance in healthcare organizations. Healthcare Administration Review, 36(2), 125-133.
  3. Rodriguez, A., Park, J., & Kim, H. (2020). Mitigating risks of PHI exposure through organizational policy improvements. Health Systems Management Quarterly, 15(3), 189-198.
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