Confidentiality and privacy of information about patients treated by primary health care teams: a review

As part of the treatment process, a multi professional primary health care team has access to the health information of a user. Such access raises questions regarding the confidentiality of this information and the privacy of the user. The present study uses a review of literature as a basis with which to discuss this issue. A search was performed of the SciELO, Lilacs and BVS databases using the fixed descriptors: secrecy, privacy and confidentiality. While earlier articles discuss the issue in the context of a professional code of conduct, excluding community health agents from access, the most recent study, concerning the care of HIV patients, is more embracing. It can be concluded that confidentiality is an arrangement between the health team and patient, creating new perspectives for the activities of community health agents and regarding access to and the role of the medical records system.