ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: There have been numerous reports of loss of confidential information amongst UK public agencies. The aim of the study was to examine current standards of practice and knowledge of junior medical staff with respect to management of patient identifiable information. METHODS: An anonymous multiple choice questionnaire was completed by 50 junior medical staff in each of 2 separate district general hospitals in the UK. RESULTS: Sixty-two percent of physicians surveyed held patient identifiable information electronically, outside of normal NHS use. Thirty percent of physicians used portable memory sticks, of which, 68% were not password protected. Ninety percent of physicians used patient ward lists in paper format with 18% frequently using a domestic waste bin for disposal. Thirty-five percent of physicians were aware of the Caldicott principles, and 58% were aware of the Data Protection Act as applied to their duties. CONCLUSIONS: Despite having statutory duties toward the management of patient identifiable information, many physicians are not aware of their responsibilities and obligations. This is unlikely to be an isolated local issue. More emphasis needs to be placed on data management in hospital induction procedures for new employees, and security measures, such as encryption software, should be made more widely available.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Attitude to Computers , Computer Security , Confidentiality , Medical Records , Medical Staff, Hospital/psychology , Computer Security/legislation & jurisprudence , Computer Security/standards , Confidentiality/legislation & jurisprudence , Confidentiality/standards , England , Hospitals, District , Hospitals, General , Humans , Information Storage and Retrieval , Medical Records/legislation & jurisprudence , Medical Records/standards , Medical Staff, Hospital/legislation & jurisprudence , Medical Staff, Hospital/standards , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The total blood loss of 101 cemented primary total hip arthroplasties was studied in a prospective randomised study. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty of them were implanted in the supine position and 51 in the lateral position. The patients were matched for sex, height, weight and ASA grade. Only one surgeon carried out the operations using the same operative technique and identical prosthesis in both groups. RESULTS: The intraoperative blood loss associated with the supine position was 1,156 ml (954-1,265 ml) and 1,129 ml (989-1,310 ml) in the lateral position. There was no difference when comparing the two groups (P = 0.41). CONCLUSION: Patient positioning in supine or lateral during total hip arthroplasty surgery has no bearing on the total amount of blood loss.
