THE ROLE OF NURSING ETHICS IN MANAGING PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY IN CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The Greek term "ethos," which means character, is where the word "ethics" originated . According to Östman et al. (2019), ethical values are generally acknowledged guidelines that help people decide whether certain behaviours, intents, and lines of reasoning are permissible. The moral precepts that direct people's behaviour individually or in communities are included in ethics (Trobec, 2018). Every individual has a unique set of morality and ethics. The ability of healthcare practitioners to recognise moral conundrums, form wise conclusions, and base those decisions on personal beliefs while abiding by the legal frameworks governing their activity is what makes ethics so important in the healthcare industry. In order to carry out their jobs in an ethical and efficient manner, nurses and other healthcare workers need rules and regulations within their industry (Epstein & Turner, 2019).

Nursing ethics, which emerged in the late 19th century, initially emphasized qualities such as loyalty, moral integrity, and obedience (Epstein & Turner, 2019). Over time, the nursing profession has evolved, with nurses becoming integral members of the healthcare team and strong advocates for patients. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has developed a Code of Ethics that provides nurses with direction in their daily work, setting forth the moral responsibilities and obligations that come with the profession. This document also establishes unwavering moral standards, reflecting the nursing profession's commitment to society. The Code of Ethics has been revised over time to incorporate technological advancements, sociological changes, the expansion of nursing roles, and the development of supportive work environments.

In Cameroon, nursing ethics is essential to protecting patients' human rights and dignity when it comes to maintaining patient confidentiality. Since patient rights are a crucial indicator of a community's general health, healthcare organisations should place a high priority on protecting them (Hamidian, 2018; Joolaee, Nikbakht-Nasrabadi, & Parsa-Yekt, 2019). Even while patient rights are becoming more and more important around the world, many patients are still ignorant of them and frequently follow medical professionals' directions without question. In order to safeguard patient confidentiality, advance their profession, and guarantee their patients' well-being, nurses must so keep the highest ethical standards.

However, numerous institutions have formed ethics panels to assess and handle moral dilemmas related to patient confidentiality. Participating in the ethical review process within their practice areas is crucial for nurses at all levels. Sustaining patient outcomes and preserving public confidence in the healthcare system need ardent advocacy for patient care, patient rights, and ethical issues in practice. Nursing ethics offers the essential framework to direct nurses in their roles as patient advocates and confidentiality guardians in Cameroon, where systemic issues may make it more difficult to maintain patient confidentiality. Therefore, this study seeks to assess the role of nursing ethics in managing patient confidentiality in Cameroon.

Statement of the Problem

Protecting patient rights is a crucial element of modern healthcare, emphasizing the need to treat individuals receiving care with dignity, respect their autonomy in making healthcare decisions, and ensure their overall well-being. However, in many healthcare settings, particularly in developing countries like Cameroon, the protection of these rights is often inadequate, leading to significant ethical challenges. Nursing ethics, which provides a framework for professional conduct, is essential in safeguarding patient rights, particularly in managing patient confidentiality.

Despite the existence of ethical guidelines, violations of patient confidentiality persist due to systemic challenges such as insufficient ethical training, resource constraints, and cultural influences. Nurses, who are often the primary caregivers, regularly encounter situations where they must make difficult decisions that directly affect patient rights, including the right to confidentiality. Systemic limitations frequently lead to compromises in areas like informed consent and patient confidentiality, undermining the quality of care provided.

The lack of comprehensive ethical training for nurses exacerbates this problem, as many are not adequately equipped to navigate the complex ethical dilemmas they face in their daily practice (Mboua et al., 2022). Furthermore, the absence of robust mechanisms to ensure adherence to ethical standards within Cameroon's healthcare system contributes to ongoing breaches of patient confidentiality. While professional organizations and regulatory frameworks outline the ethical duties of nurses, the enforcement of these standards is often ineffective. The gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application creates an environment where unethical practices may go unchecked, leading to a decline in patient trust and the overall quality of healthcare (Emeh & Ndi, 2019).

Moreover, the role of nursing ethics in managing patient confidentiality in Cameroon is critical. It involves not only adhering to ethical guidelines but also addressing the systemic issues that hinder effective implementation, ensuring that patient rights, particularly the right to confidentiality, are consistently upheld in all healthcare settings. Hence, it is in the light of these challenges, the study seeks to assess the role of nursing ethics in managing patient confidentiality in Cameroon.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to assess the role of nursing ethics in managing patient confidentiality in Cameroon. Specifically, the study will;

Evaluate the existing ethical guidelines and standards for managing patient confidentiality within nursing practice in Cameroon.

Determine the whether ethical training programs enhance nurses ability to protect patient information.

Examine the role of healthcare institutions in supporting nurses in maintaining patient confidentiality.

Investigate the consequences of breaches in patient confidentiality for healthcare institutions in Cameroon

1.4  Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

How effective are the existing ethical guidelines and standards for managing patient confidentiality within nursing practice in Cameroon?

Do ethical training programs enhance nurses' ability to protect patient information?

What role do healthcare institutions play in supporting nurses in maintaining patient confidentiality?

What are the consequences of breaches in patient confidentiality for healthcare institutions in Cameroon?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: There is no significant effect of nursing ethics on the management of patient confidentiality in Cameroon.

Ha: There is a significant effect of nursing ethics on the management of patient confidentiality in Cameroon.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will have important applications for the public, legislators, and healthcare professionals. These findings will provide important new understandings of the ethical guidelines guiding patient care for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. The results will also improve the interactions between patients and nurses, fostering a more polite and sympathetic medical setting.Additionally, the study will provide evidence-based recommendations for the development and implementation of moral education initiatives and patient-centered policies to hospital managers and legislators. This could lead to better patient satisfaction, fewer malpractice cases, and general improvements in Cameroon's healthcare system's overall quality. Furthermore, the study will increase the public's and patients' understanding of their rights within the healthcare system, enabling them to push for better care.

Furthermore, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the role of nursing ethics in managing patient confidentiality in Cameroon.

1.7 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on the role of nursing ethics in managing patient confidentiality in Cameroon. Geographically, the study will be delimited to nurses in Cameroon.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Nursing: profession and practice of providing care to individuals, families, and communities to maintain or improve their health and quality of life.

Ethics: set of principles and standards that guide moral conduct and decision-making.

Nursing Ethics: The principles and moral guidelines that govern the conduct of nurses in their professional practice.

Patient Confidentiality: involves safeguarding information from unauthorized access or disclosure, ensuring that such data is only shared with individuals who have a legitimate need to know, as permitted by the patient or required by law.

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