scholarly journals Blockchain Technology - Current Status and Future Research Opportunities in Various Areas of Healthcare Industry

Author(s):  
P. S. Aithal ◽  
Architha Aithal ◽  
Edwin Dias

Purpose: Blockchain technology is one of the emerging Information Communication and Computation (ICCT) underlying technologies of the 21st century with potential applications in primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary industry sectors. In this paper, we have identified and analyzed some of the potential fields of the healthcare industry that can get benefit by means of using blockchain technology principles. Based on a systematic review on the development of blockchain technology and its application in healthcare sector to improve the quality of healthcare services, this paper identifies some of the application areas in the healthcare industry including Healthcare Security & Authentication aspects, Clinical Trials & Precision Medicine, Personalizing the Healthcare Services, Healthcare Data Management, Strengthening Public Health Surveillance, e-Healthcare to Customers, Healthcare Administration & Medicine Management, Telehealth & Telemedicine, Managing Medical Imaging, Developing Smart Healthcare System, and Healthcare Information System. The purpose also includes the analysis of the current implementation challenges of blockchain technology in healthcare industry services. Methodology: The study is descriptive and exploratory in nature. The related information is collected from various secondary sources for review. The secondary sources include published literature from various scholarly journals searched through Google scholar by means of identified keywords. Results/Findings: Based on a systematic review, we have identified the current status of the use of blockchain in several areas of healthcare sector, desired status called ideal status, and the research gap of use of blockchain technology in various application areas of the healthcare industry along with identification of various possible research agendas for future research. Originality/Value: It is found that blockchain technology facilitates for the improvement of quality services in the healthcare sector and various research agendas are proposed to carry out further research for patient satisfaction and comfortability. Type of the Paper: Review based research analysis.

2021 ◽  
pp. 095148482110102
Author(s):  
Nafisa Vaz ◽  
R Venkatesh

Although there has been a tremendous change in the way diseases are diagnosed and treated, the ways in which health care delivery has been managed has seen very little change. Several academic studies have arisen in the area of service design, but an amalgamation of this research, especially in the area of healthcare services is not available. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the published research on service design in healthcare and accordingly identify the gaps and scope of future research. After analyzing the articles and reviewing the Service design in healthcare literature, the following are our main contributions: (i) clarification of the service design concept and the developments that appears in the literature review of service design in the healthcare sector; (ii) classification of the service design tools and techniques that are most commonly used in the healthcare sector; (iii) demonstration of the service design as the preponderant construct that is used as a tool and technique to improve quality and efficiency in the healthcare service.The resultant systematic review reveals a change in the type of research carried out, the service design tools used and a shift towards service design from using the co-design tool to other methods. The paper highlights the gaps in the very limited amount of empirical work in the non-clinical healthcare space and accordingly a model is recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yang Li ◽  
Biaoan Shan ◽  
Beiwei Li ◽  
Xiaoju Liu ◽  
Yi Pu

The emergence of machine learning (ML) and blockchain (BC) technology has greatly enriched the functions and services of healthcare, giving birth to the new field of “smart healthcare.” This study aims to review the application of ML and BC technology in the smart medical industry by Web of Science (WOS) using bibliometric visualization. Through our research, we identify the countries with the greatest output, the major research subjects, funding funds, and the research hotspots in this field. We also find out the key themes and future research areas in application of ML and BC technology in healthcare area. We reveal the different aspects of research under the two technologies and how they relate to each other around five themes.


This paper reviews the empirical literature on Initial Coin Offering (ICO), blockchain technology and impact for healthcare based on legal perspectives. The rise of blockchain technology has given impact especially on financial sector and business, there are very limited research been done about the implications of this technology in healthcare sector. Based from the literature it shows that it is still scarce about blockchain and initial coin offerings in healthcare industry. The scope of this article is twofold which is i) to understand the impact of blockchain technology and initial coin offering in healthcare industry; and 2) to understand the legal challenges especially in initial coin offerings. The revolution of blockchain technology will provide more positive impact in healthcare sector and can be used as new strategic directions for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-162
Author(s):  
Laura Simmons ◽  
Arwel W. Jones ◽  
Niro Siriwardena ◽  
Christopher Bridle

Purpose Sickness absence is a major concern for healthcare services and their employees with healthcare workers having higher sickness absence rates compared to the general population. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review randomised control trials (RCTs) that aimed to reduce sickness absence among healthcare workers. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review was conducted that aimed to include RCTs with study participants who were employed in any part of the healthcare sector. This review included any type of intervention with the primary outcome measure being sickness absence. Findings Seven studies were included in the review and consisted of one exercise-only intervention, three multicomponent intervention programmes, two influenza vaccination interventions and one process consultation. Three studies (exercise-only, one multicomponent intervention programme and one influenza vaccination intervention) were able to demonstrate a reduction in sickness absence compared to control. Research limitations/implications Due to the lack of high-quality evidence, this review identified that there are currently no interventions that healthcare organisations are able to use to effectively reduce sickness absence among their employees. This review also highlights the importance of a standardised measure of sickness absence for healthcare staff, such as shifts. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic review to synthesise such evidence among healthcare workers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Xin Ning ◽  
Tong Liu ◽  
Chunlin Wu ◽  
Chao Wang

3D printing (3DP) is regarded as an innovation that contributes to automation in civil engineering and offers benefits in design, greenness, and efficiency. It is necessary to objectively analyze the current status and challenges associated with 3DP and identify future research directions to properly understand its construction applications. Previous research has focused more on the technical dimension of 3DP; however, the nontechnical dimension of the technology may hinder its implementation and thus must be paid particular attention to. This study presents a systematic review of the existing literature from both technical and nontechnical dimensions by combining quantitative and qualitative studies. The quantitative study was conducted using scientometric methods. The qualitative study analyzed information, including the technical research status and nontechnical challenges and trends. Two aspects of technical research status are presented, including materials and processes. In addition, nontechnical challenges and trends from the economic, environmental, social, and legislative aspects are proposed. This study provides a comprehensive agenda to advance 3DP in construction and proposes research interests, challenges, and future topics. It is intended to help construction practitioners systematically master existing processes and materials and assess the application degree and necessity of 3DP.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghada Alhussein ◽  
Leontios Hadjileontiadis

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is the fourth most common chronic disease in the world. Adopting preventative measures and effective self-management interventions help in improving bone health. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies can play a key role in osteoporosis patient care and self- management. OBJECTIVE This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of the currently available mHealth applications targeting osteoporosis self-management, aiming to determine the current status, gaps and challenges the future research could address, proposing appropriate recommendations. METHODS In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, Web of Science, and IEEExplore databases between Jan 1, 2010 and May 31, 2021, for all English publications that describe apps dedicated to or being useful for osteoporosis, targeting self-management, nutrition, physical activity, risk assessment, delivered on smartphone devices for young and older adults. In addition, a survey of all osteoporosis-related apps available in iOS and Android app stores as of May 31, 2021 was also conducted. Primary outcomes of interest were the prevention or reduction of unhealthy behaviours or improvement in healthy behaviours of the six behaviours. Outcomes were summarised in a narrative synthesis and combined using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS In total, 3906 unique articles were identified. Of these, 32 articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed in depth. The 32 studies were comprising 14 235 participants, of whom on average 69.5% were female, with a mean age of 49.8 years (SD 17.8). The app search identified 23 relevant apps for osteoporosis self-management. The meta-analysis revealed that mHealth supported interventions resulted in a significant reduction in pain (Hedge’s g -1.09, 95%CI -1.68 to -0.45) and disability (Hedge’s g -0.77, 95%CI -1.59 to 0.05). The post-treatment effect of the digital intervention was significant for physical function (Hedge’s g 2.54, 95%CI -4.08 to 4.08); yet nonsignificant for wellbeing (Hedge’s g 0.17, 95% CI -1.84 to 2.17), physical activity (Hedges’ g 0.09, 95%CI -0.59 to 0.50), anxiety (Hedge’s g -0.29, 95%CI -6.11 to 5.53), fatigue (Hedge’s g -0.34, 95%CI -5.84 to 5.16), calcium (Hedge’s g -0.05, 95%CI -0.59 to 0.50) and vitamin D (Hedge’s g 0.10, 95% CI -4.05 to 4.26) intake, and trabecular score (Hedge’s g 0.06, 95%CI -1.00 to 1.12). CONCLUSIONS Osteoporosis apps have the potential to support and improve the management of the disease and its symptoms; they also appear to be a valuable tool for patients and health professionals. However, the majority of the apps that are currently available lack clinically validated evidence of their efficacy and they most focus on a limited number of symptoms. A more holistic and personalized approach, within a co-creation design ecosystem, is needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (06) ◽  
pp. 1167-1182
Author(s):  
Shreyas Nopany ◽  
◽  
Prof. Manonmani S ◽  

The healthcare industry has become increasingly demanding in recent years. The growing number of patients makes it difficult for doctors and staff to manage their work effectively. In order to achieve their objectives, data analysts collect a large amount of data, analyze it, and use it to derive valuable insights. Data analytics may become a promising solution as healthcare industry demands increase. The paper discusses the challenges of data analytics in the healthcare sector and the benefits of using big data for healthcare analytics. Aside from focusing on the opportunities that big data analytics has in the healthcare sector, the paper will also discuss data governance, strategy formulation, and improvements to IT infrastructure. Implementation techniques include Hadoop, HDFS, MapReduce, and Apache in Big Data Analytics. A Healthcare Management System can be categorized into five divisions, namely, Drug discovery, Disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, Hospital operations, post-care, requiring comprehensive data management. Big Data analysis support transformation is identified as a required component in future research for the application of Big Data in HealthCare.


Author(s):  
Amir Manzoor

Implementation of RFID technology-based healthcare services is on the rise. The purpose of this chapter is a thorough, systematic review of the existing literature to provide a discussion of current trends and future directions in this domain. Findings indicate that tracking is the key RFID enabling function. Automatic data collection and transfer is an RFID function also frequently used in relation to assets, staff, and patients. Finally, RFID is employed for sensing, most often in relation to patients, but also to assets. The chapter concludes by highlighting future research directions where the deployment of RFID technology is likely to transform the healthcare sector.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1370-1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Vijaya Sunder M. ◽  
Raja Sreedharan ◽  
Ayon Chakraborty ◽  
Angappa Gunasekaran

Purpose Fostered by a rapid spread beyond the manufacturing sector, Lean philosophy for continuous improvement has been widely used in service organizations, primarily in the healthcare sector. However, there is a limited research on the motivating factors, challenges and benefits of implementing Lean in healthcare. Taking this as a valuable opportunity, the purpose of this paper is to present the key motivating factors, limitations or challenges of Lean deployment, benefits of Lean in healthcare and key gaps in the literature as an agenda for future research. Design/methodology/approach The authors used the secondary data from the literature (peer-reviewed journal articles) published between 2000 and 2016 to understand the state of the art. The systematic review identified 101 articles across 88 journals recognized by the Association of Business Schools ranking guide 2015. Findings The systematic review helped the authors to identify the evolution, current trends, research gaps and an agenda for future research for Lean in healthcare. A bouquet of motivating factors, challenges/limitations and benefits of Lean in healthcare are presented. Practical implications The implications of this work include directions for managers and healthcare professionals in healthcare organizations to embark on a focused Lean journey aligned with the strategic objectives. This work could serve as a valuable resource to both practitioners and researchers for learning, investigating and rightly adapting the Lean in the healthcare sector. Originality/value This study is perhaps one of the comprehensive systematic literature reviews covering an important agenda of Lean in Healthcare. All the text, figures and tables featured here are original work carried by five authors in collaboration (from three countries, namely, India, the USA and the UK).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya A ◽  
Kavitha G

Abstract There has been noteworthy issues that must be tackled by the healthcare sector along with handling the security concerns that are intensely linked with offering of healthcare services, inculcating novel electronic healthcare systems, and secure data communication with different healthcare and government institutions. These security related concerns project several privacy preserving methodologies pertaining to the privacy and security of EHRs (electronic health records) in the cloud. The EHRs comprises of information related to demographics, medical histories, digital images, medications, lab reports, billing details and other sensitive patient information. All this sensitive patient information is kept highly secured and resides in third party servers with definite access controlling mechanism. The conventional system employs various cryptography algorithm for authorization, encryption, decryption, key generation and validation algorithms. There is proposal of a new cryptography algorithm for combating the limitations of AES, RSA and ABS. For securing the healthcare data residing in the cloud, the research presents effective utilization of new hybrid cryptography algorithm and Blockchain technology with smart contract. Unlike the prevailing three cryptographic algorithms, the proposed algorithm offers enhanced time, accuracy, efficiency and key generation and performance. Overall, there is a drastic transformation in securing the healthcare records using the proposed approach.


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