Knowledge of health care providers about legal aspects of medical records in teaching hospitals affiliated to Lorestan university of medical sciences

Knowledge of healthcare providers, about ethical and legal aspects of healthcare, prepares providing conditions of patients, right. The aim ofthisstudy is to determine the knowledge of healthcare providers about legal aspects of medical records in teaching hospitals affiliated to Lorestan university of medical sciences in 2010. In this cross-sectional study, 210 healthcare providers, selected randomly, including physicians, nurses and medical record personnel were surveyed and data gathered by a valid questionnaire designed based on regulations related to health information, related experts and reference texts. Data were analyzed through the mean score(± SD)of correct responses and SPSS software. The knowledge level of healthcare providers was moderate about legal aspect of confidentiality (3.79 ± 1.13 from 9 points), informed consent (4.47 ± 1.62 from 10 points) and issuing certificates (3.40 ± 1.52 from 11 points). Totally, the knowledge level was moderate (11.72± 4.53 from 30 points). Physicians had more knowledge and nurses less. Educating legal aspects related to medical records including confidentiality, informed consent, and especially issuing certificates for all of healthcare providers specially nurses seems necessary.