Privacy, Care-seeking, and Stigma: A Qualitative Investigation of Patient Perspectives on Sharing Substance Use Disorder Treatment Records.

Objectives: To examine, among persons with substance use disorders (SUDs), how their decision-making to seek care is influenced by concerns about the privacy of their treatment records, how they weigh the risks and benefits of record sharing, and their awareness of how records are shared and regulated.

Methods: This qualitative study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and analyzed semi-structured interviews of 13 men and 14 women recruited from inpatient and residential SUD treatment programs. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment took place over an extended period (between May 2020 and July 2023).