Researchers: Sivia Barnoy¹, Michal Itzhaki¹

Background: Health Information Exchange (HIE) system will create a database facilitating continuous care, access to medical and nursing information, improved care standards and error prevention. Nonetheless, there is a risk of privacy violations and chain errors. Nurses are a significant part of the in-patient/community continuity of care and they influence patients' attitudes. Therefore, it is important to study nurses' and patients' attitudes of HIE.

Objectives: To study nurses' and patients' attitudes and intention to use the HIE.

Method: A cross-sectional study. Data were collected by structured questionnaires administered to 314 patients and 165 nurses at internal medicine departments in two hospitals and in community clinics of one Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).

Findings: Nurses' attitudes toward HIE and their consent to information sharing were more positive than those of the patients. Community nurses had the most positive attitudes and willingness to share information with other medical/health suppliers. There were no significant differences in knowledge regarding the HIE between nurses and patients. Positive attitudes toward HIE predicted the willingness to share information, and more knowledge about HIE negatively predicted the willingness to share information.

Conclusions: There is a difference between nurses and patients in their positions regarding HIE and their intention to use it. Positive attitudes about HIE are essential for the willingness to share information.

Recommendations: There are differences between nurses' and patients' positions regarding HIE and their intention to use it. Positive attitudes about HIE are essential for the willingness to share information.

Research end date: 11/2018