Assessing data integrity and security in healthcare information management practice

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Data integrity and data security underpin safe, reliable and effective healthcare delivery. In low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings such as Nigeria, rapid digitalization of health records has created opportunities for improved care, but has also introduced new risks to data accuracy and confidentiality. This review sought to synthesize evidence on the importance, common threats and practical strategies to ensure data integrity and security within Health Information Management (HIM) practice in Nigeria and similar settings. Design/Methods: Descriptive analytical review and expert-practice synthesis. The manuscript consolidates material from the uploaded presentation and augments it with targeted literature on health data governance, cyber security, and electronic health record (EHR) best-practices. Key themes were extracted and organized into problem (threats), mitigation (technical and organizational controls), and governance sections. Results Threats to integrity and security include human error, legacy systems, insecure data migration, weak access controls and targeted cyber-attacks. Interventions that showed consistent value across the literature and practice included formal data governance frameworks, role-based access controls, encryption of data at rest and in transit, routine audit trails, staff training, device management policies, and incident response plans. Conclusion: Strengthening data integrity and security requires combined technical controls, governance and continuous capacity building for HIM professionals. Implementation of context-appropriate policies, together with investment in training and basic cyber hygiene, substantially reduces risk and improves patient safety.