1,200 people have taken part in our National Public Engagement Survey on Health Information. The survey, run in partnership with the Department of Health and the HSE, asked people about their opinions on how their personal health information is collected, used and shared by health and social care services.
Commencing on Tuesday 27 October, 1,200 members of the public, aged 18 years and over, were contacted by phone and asked a number of questions to ascertain their views on the collection, use and sharing of their personal health information. Participants were given simple scenarios based on the Irish healthcare system to guide them through the questions.
The survey findings will be used to make improvements to health information; ensuring it is kept safe, and people’s rights to privacy are upheld.
The development of the survey has been informed by engagement with key stakeholders such as patient representatives, healthcare professionals and HIQA staff. The survey has also been cognitively tested with patients and members of the public.
We will begin holding focus groups in early 2021 to ensure that we fully understand the findings of the survey and to ensure we reach any groups that may not be represented in the survey findings. Focus groups will be held with the public, patients and special interest groups such as those who use mental health and sexual health services.
The National Public Engagement Survey on Health Information gave the public a platform to voice their opinions on this topic and have a meaningful impact on how their health information will be collected, used and shared. The results of this survey will be used:
- by HIQA to inform the development of recommendations on a consent model for the collection, use and sharing of health information in Ireland, and
- by the Department of Health and the HSE to inform future developments in relation to national health information strategy and policy.
More information on the survey can be found here.