Safeguarding Privacy in Georgia: Medical Ethics in the Digital Era – A Cross-Sectional Study
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background The digitalization of healthcare systems has significantly intensified the importance of medical ethics, especially in the area of data privacy and patient autonomy. In Georgia, historical legacies, evolving legal frameworks, and uneven professional training have shaped a complex ethical environment within the healthcare sector. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of ethical practices in the Georgian healthcare system, focusing on patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and data protection. It also assessed healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning medical ethics and digital privacy. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 412 physicians and nurses across 30 hospitals in Georgia between May and November 2024. A structured questionnaire was developed specifically for this study to assess healthcare professionals’ experiences with ethical dilemmas and data protection. It assessed sociodemographic characteristics, ethical perspectives, sources of ethical knowledge, and data protection practices. The internal consistency of the ethics-related items was verified (Cronbach’s α = 0.82), and data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 with Chi-square tests and Cramér’s V to assess group differences. Results While 74.3% of participants reported the presence of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for ethical decision-making, 18.2% were unaware of them, indicating a gap in institutional communication. Only 22.8% had consulted an ethics committee, and fewer than 70% had received recent training in data protection. Nurses were significantly less aware of data protection measures compared to physicians (p < 0.05). Key challenges identified included limited cybersecurity infrastructure, underutilization of formal ethical support mechanisms, and disparities in continuous professional development. Conclusions Despite existing ethical frameworks, their inconsistent application and the lack of standardized training compromise ethical decision-making in Georgian healthcare. Institutional reforms are needed to improve ethical awareness, enhance cybersecurity, ensure compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR, and promote continuous professional education. These measures are essential for safeguarding patient rights and building trust in the digital healthcare era.
Source: Research Square
Institutions: University of Georgia, Avicenna - Batumi Medical University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4415271007