A Blockchain-Applied Personal Health Record Application: Development and User Experience
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Blockchain Technology
2.2. Structure of the Blockchain-Applied PHR
2.2.1. Main Function
2.2.2. Data Provided by Blockchain-Applied PHR
2.2.3. Flow of the Service
2.3. Study Design
2.3.1. Participants
2.3.2. Protocol
2.3.3. Questionnaire Study
2.3.4. In-Depth Interview
2.4. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Demographics and SUS Score
3.2. Questionnaire Study
3.3. In-Depth Interviews
3.3.1. Intention of Use
“I like being able to check my records anywhere without having to go to the hospital.”[Study participant 30].
“By using the block chain [sic], the security is strengthened, and it seems to be reliable.”[Study participant 24].
“You can check it on the hospital app, too, so I don’t know much about the need.”[Study participant 10].
“I don’t know exactly what blockchain is, so I can’t say clearly, but honestly, I think that blockchain technology is really necessary? [sic].”[Study participant 29].
3.3.2. Acceptance of Technology
“I am only aware of the block chain [sic] technology that is applied to Bitcoin.”[Study participant 2].
“I don’t have to worry about how to use it because they gave me enough instructions.”[Study participant 3].
“It wasn’t difficult for me to understand, but I don’t know how adults will actually take it.”[Study participant 30].
3.3.3. Health Data Management and Sharing
“When I go to another hospital, I don’t have to explain my condition repeatedly, so I think sharing information will be helpful.”[Study participant 24].
“By using the blockchain, we feel that data is transmitted securely.”[Study participant 14].
3.3.4. Suggestions for Improvement
“If primary hospital, secondary hospital, tertiary hospital is linked, I am willing to use it.”[Study participant 10].
“If it is certified that there is no problem in security that blockchain technology has been applied through a government or institution, it is of course trustworthy.”[Study participant 28].
3.3.5. Summary of the In-Depth Interviews
4. Discussion
5. Limitations and Future Work
6. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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N | % | ||
---|---|---|---|
Total | 30 | 100 | |
Sex | Male | 15 | 50 |
Female | 15 | 50 | |
Age | 20’s | 11 | 36.7 |
30’s | 14 | 46.7 | |
>40’s | 5 | 16.6 | |
Reason for visit (Duplicate responses are possible) | Outpatient | 30 | 100 |
Emergency | 4 | 13.3 |
Category | Question | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | MODE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Understanding of blockchain technology | I have heard of blockchain. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 15 | 5 |
I know how blockchain technology is applied. | 4 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | |
I considered using blockchain to manage my health information. | 5 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
Trust of blockchain technology | I trust blockchain technology. | 1 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
I think blockchain technology protects my health information safely. | 0 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 4 | |
I agree that the blockchain transmits data safely. | 2 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 4 | |
I think blockchain technology is more reliable than conventional methods in transmitting health information. | 2 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 3 | |
Familiarity of blockchain technology | I think blockchain technology has an advantage in accessing my health information. | 1 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 4 |
I think I am familiar with blockchain technology. | 7 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Category | Question | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | MODE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Understanding of exchange health information | I have heard of a dynamic consent system. | 22 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
I was able to actively participate in utilizing and exchanging my health information. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 10 | 4 | |
I am interested in accessing my health information independently. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 17 | 5 | |
Digital literacy | I use the Internet well. | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 5 |
I make good use of digital technology. | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 5 | |
I use the applications on my smartphone well. | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 5 | |
I can download and install applications well on my phone. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 5 | |
I am active in learning digital technology. | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 5 | |
I feel scared when someone talks about digital technology. | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Key Theme | Category | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
Intention of use | Blockchain | Blockchain is needed to protect patient data. Blockchain is needed because it is good in terms of system security. | Wondering if blockchain is the only way to protect patients’ information. |
PHR | Exchanging patients’ health information is needed. Checking my health data anywhere and anytime is needed. | App provided by the hospital can also be used to check patient health data. | |
Acceptance of technology | Blockchain | A basic understanding of blockchain technology. Users can have sovereignty over their own data. | Does not know about the technology. Heard of the technology but does not know about the mechanism. |
PHR | No difficulty in using service. | A manual on how to use the service is needed. Application design needs to be a little more intuitive. | |
Health data management and sharing | Blockchain | Health data could be systemically managed. Able to independently manage my own health data. | Negative opinion due to not knowing much about the technology. |
PHR | Sharing information with medical staff has become easy. | Not very interested. |
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Kim, J.W.; Kim, S.J.; Cha, W.C.; Kim, T. A Blockchain-Applied Personal Health Record Application: Development and User Experience. Appl. Sci. 2022, 12, 1847. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041847
Kim JW, Kim SJ, Cha WC, Kim T. A Blockchain-Applied Personal Health Record Application: Development and User Experience. Applied Sciences. 2022; 12(4):1847. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041847
Chicago/Turabian StyleKim, Ji Woong, Su Jin Kim, Won Chul Cha, and Taerim Kim. 2022. "A Blockchain-Applied Personal Health Record Application: Development and User Experience" Applied Sciences 12, no. 4: 1847. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041847
APA StyleKim, J. W., Kim, S. J., Cha, W. C., & Kim, T. (2022). A Blockchain-Applied Personal Health Record Application: Development and User Experience. Applied Sciences, 12(4), 1847. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041847