Two hundred and fifty patients at a university hospital teaching clinic and 200 patients in a small private medical office were questioned about their expectations for confidentiality. It was found that in general, subjects in both groups had similar expectations of how physicians handle confidential information. This included physician behavior in situations such as discussing cases with other physicians for second opinions, submitting cases to medical journals, and discussing cases at parties or with spouses and friends. The similarity existed despite demographic differences between the two groups and despite marked differences in the two practice settings. A few differences between the groups were noted, however. University clinic patients were more likely than private office patients (54.5% vs 38.5%) to expect that cases are discussed at large physicians' meetings. Private office patients were more likely (77.8% vs 67%) to expect physicians to discuss cases with nurses. Men in both practice settings were more likely than women to believe that physicians commonly submit cases to medical journals (75.8% vs 59.9%), or discuss cases with nurses (81% vs 67%), non-medical friends (10.9% vs 4.4%), spouses (53% vs 36.4%), and at parties with physicians (56.4% vs 39.6%).
KIE: Confidentiality expectations were solicited from 250 patients of a University of Arizona outpatient teaching clinic and from 200 private office practice patients of two of the authors. Despite demographic and practice setting differences, both groups of patients in general had similar impressions of how physicians handle confidential information with other health professionals, spouses, and friends, at medical meetings, and for publication. The authors conclude that physicians' behavior regarding confidentiality is not of critical importance in patient choice of a health care setting. They note, however, that their study evaluated perceptions of confidentiality and not preferences about confidentiality.