An Assessment of the HIPAA-Related Knowledge of Pharmacy Students at the University of Arizona

Abstract

Objectives: To assess students’ knowledge of HIPAA and to address the null hypotheses that knowledge scores on HIPAA-related questions did not differ by class year, months of work experience, or HIPAA training and work experience. Methods: This project used a cross-sectional survey design with a self-administered questionnaire distributed by the investigators in a classroom setting. The questionnaire consisted of 13 multiple-choice questions to assess students' knowledge of HIPAA as well as four descriptive items. The questions addressed the following HIPAA categories: general principles of HIPAA; minimum necessary standards for use of protected health information (PHI); permitted uses and disclosures of PHI for treatment, payment, and health care operations; personal representatives and PHI; PHI for marketing; and public health activities and PHI. The questionnaire was tested for content validity and item reliability. First, second, and third year pharmacy students who were enrolled during the spring 2004 semester and attended class the day the questionnaire was administered were eligible to participate. Results: Scores were derived for the 13 multiple-choice questions and mean scores for the three classes were compared using Kruskal-Wallis 1-way ANOVA by ranks. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for scores versus months of work experience. Spearman rank correlations were used to compare knowledge scores with the following: (1) work experience and HIPAA training, (2) work experience and no HIPAA training, (3) no work experience and HIPAA training, or (4) no work experience and no HIPAA training. ANOVA and Tukey’s tests were used to assess any differences between the HIPAA categories. Implications: Students training at experiential sites must be familiar with the HIPAA requirements. This assessment provided important curricular feedback to the College.