PRACTICE OF DIGITAL DATA SECURITY IN HEALTHCARE AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AT SPECIALIZED TEACHING HOSPITALS IN AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: - Digital data security is the protection of digital data from unauthorized access, alteration, and destruction. Nowadays, security breaches are becoming more common. In health care, the data has breached over 50 million medical records per year. In Ethiopia, health digitization has grown gradually, and limitations of study on digital health data security. Study on digital data security helps to individuals protect digital data. It helps as a baseline and contributes to develop digital health security policy. Objective: - Assess the practice of healthcare professionals on digital data security among specialized teaching referral hospitals in the Amhara Region, 2022 G.C. Method: - Mixed method or cross-sectional study supplemented by a heterogeneous purposive sampling method was conducted to measure the practice of health professionals on digital data security issues. 423 sample size was determined by a single population proportion formula. Proportional allocation and a simple random approach were used. A pre-test was used to check the consistency. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors and p-value ? 0.2 candidates for multi-variable logistic analysis. A key informant interview was used for the qualitative study, and the data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach using open-code software version 4.02. Result: -The result shows that 45.0% of health professionals, practice digital data security techniques. Health professions 41-45 age group (AOR=.107), master’s degree (AOR= 2.45), and post master’s degree (AOR= 3.87), time to visit internet more than two half hours per a day (AOR=2.46), taken basic computer training (AOR=2.77), trained in digital data security (AOR=2.14) and knowledge (AOR =1.76), associated with practice digital data security. Key interview personnel responds that the challenges limit adaptability to digital security and solve by giving training, fulfilling digital security, and improving health professions knowledge. Conclusion: The practice of digital data security in a specialized teaching hospital in the Amhara region was not adequate. Age, education status time to visit the internet, taking basic computer training, training in digital data security, and knowledge are significant factors to practice digital data security. The responsible body shall improve the health profession’s ability related to digital data security techniques. Keywords: Practice, digital health, digital data security, health profession