Blockchain in Health Information Systems: A Systematic Review

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Nov 14;21(11):1512. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21111512.

Abstract

(1) Background: With the increasing digitalization of healthcare systems, data security and privacy have become crucial issues. In parallel, blockchain technology has gradually proven to be an innovative solution to address this challenge, as its ability to provide an immutable and secure record of transactions offers significant promise for healthcare information management. This systematic review aims to explore the applications of blockchain in health information systems, highlighting its advantages and challenges. (2) Methods: The publications chosen to compose this review were collected from six databases, resulting in the initial identification of 4864 studies. Of these, 73 were selected for in-depth analysis. (3) Results: The main results show that blockchain has been used mainly in electronic health records (63%). Furthermore, it was used in the Internet of Medical Things (8.2%) and for data sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic (6.8%). As advantages, greater security, privacy, and data integrity were identified, while the challenges point to the need for standardization and regulatory issues. (4) Conclusions: Despite the difficulties encountered, blockchain has significant potential to improve healthcare data management. However, more research and continued collaboration between those involved are needed to maximize its benefits.

Keywords: blockchain; electronic patient record; health information systems; health system; public health.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blockchain*
  • COVID-19*
  • Computer Security*
  • Electronic Health Records
  • Health Information Systems*
  • Humans
  • Information Dissemination
  • SARS-CoV-2