Confidentiality of Information Stored on the Desktop of Computers in a Psychiatric Hospital: Before and After an Intervention

The aim of this before-after study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on the confidentiality status of unprotected information stored on computer desktop in a psychiatric hospital. All switched-on computer systems were inspected in 2017-2018 at the baseline and 7 months after placing an educational poster. The log-in conditions and files stored on the desktop were reviewed using a researcher-made checklist; moreover, users answered questions about the possible mechanism of deleting information stored on the desktop. The number of files stored on desktops, the number of systems left switched on and unused, and the number of systems without a log-in password decreased in the second phase than the first phase of this study. Furthermore, automatic locking of computers after a specified period increased. The educational intervention reduced significantly the storage of information on desktops and improved security mechanisms such as using passwords and autolock. This study showed using an educational poster can encourage users to preserve the security of information, comply with security guidelines such as locking unused computers, and prevent access to confidential information.