Searching for private patient information in Internet resources (patient-targeted Google)—experiences of nurses and nursing students

The Internet is a source of many information about users who are unaware of the extent to which their privacy and anonymity are abolished. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of patient-targeted Google and to know about selected factors influencing such searches among nurses and midwives, as well as nursing and midwifery students.

The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey method and the research tool was an author’s survey questionnaire that included a sociodemographic section, questions on patient-targeted Google, and a description of three cases written for the study representing the behavior of members of the therapeutic team in specific situations related to the provision of health services asking respondents to evaluate the actions taken.

The majority of respondents (59.82%) looked for information about patients on the Internet. The main (79.34%) reason for starting the search was curiosity and the desire to understand the patient's behavior (50.18%). According to 54.06%, obtaining information about patients without informing them is unethical and may violate the principle of informed consent (56.07%) and privacy (55.19%).

The phenomenon of searching for private information about patients on the Internet is present among polish nurses and midwives as well as students of nursing and midwifery. Due to the potential benefits and risks associated with conducting patient targeted googling there is a need for education about patient-targeted Google in the scope of basic education of students, but also postgraduate education of nurses and midwives.