A feasibility study of implementation of blockchain and internet of things technologies in hospitals affiliated to Tabriz university of medical sciences from the user’s point

Abstract

Abstract A feasibility study of implementation of blockchain and Internet of Things technologies in hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from Background: In the absence of IoT technology, many health problems are not detected due to insufficient access to health care systems in hospitals. Using IoT technology, patients can easily and at any time and in any place can see their treatment process and be fully informed about it. According to the information obtained from IoT, which describes the user in full detail. Privacy is still a major challenge, so blockchain-based approaches provide decentralized security and privacy. Therefore, due to the uncommonness and non-implementation of these technologies in Iran; Therefore, we decided to conduct this study with the aim of "feasibility study of the implementation of blockchain technology and IoT technology", which can provide a basis for better implementation of these two technologies. Objectives: Feasibility study of technical, economic, managerial, educational and cultural infrastructures of Blockchain technology and IoT-based technology in hospitals affiliated to Tabriz university of medical sciences from the user’s point Material and methods: This is a descriptive-applied study that was cross-sectionally studied in 2020. The target population of the study were staff and personnel in the field of health information management, medical informatics, health information technology of all hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (n = 30). To collect the data required for this study, a structured questionnaire was used and to analyze the data, the method of calculating the weighted average of each question was used in SPSS software. Results: The results were examined in 5 dimensions. In the technical dimension, the access of out-of-hospital users to the Internet inside the hospital network was of the least importance and the security of the data stored on the database was more important. In the economic dimension, the unprofitability of using IoT in organizations with low operating costs was the least important and the cost of initial installation was the most important. In the managerial dimension, the motivation to work in the employees was the least important, managers' poor understanding of the hardware and information system, the phenomenon of resistance to change in the system executives were the most important. In the educational dimension of the activity of the association and related scientific centers, the desire of health care providers to acquire new skills such as using computers in work was of the least importance, and in the cultural dimension, community support for the development of IoT and blockchain technology. The hospital was of the least importance, the structural changes necessary to accept the implementation of blockchain technology and IoT-based technology were more important. Conclusion: According to the results obtained, among the 5 dimensions studied, the technical dimension was the most important and in the next categories, managerial and educational dimensions were placed .