Attitudes Toward Blockchain Technology in Managing Medical Information: Survey Study

• Published in: Journal of medical Internet research Vol. 21; no. 12; p. e15870
• Main Authors: Hau, Yong Sauk, Lee, Jae Min, Park, Jaechan, Chang, Min Cheol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Gunther Eysenbach MD MPH, Associate Professor 09.12.2019; JMIR Publications
• Subjects: Attitudes; Blockchain; Clinical information; Consent; Demographics; Expectancy theory; Hospitals; Information technology; Medical technology; Medicine; Morality; Original Paper; Patients; Peer to peer computing; Physicians; Polls & surveys; Questionnaires; Reliability; Self employment; Transparency; electronic health records; medical staff; surveys and questionnaires; patient; attitude
• ISSN: 1438-8871; 1439-4456; 1438-8871
• DOI: 10.2196/15870

The recently developed blockchain technology uses a peer-to-peer network to distribute data to all participants for storage. This method enhances data safety, reliability, integrity, and transparency. To successfully introduce blockchain technology to medical data management, it is essential to obtain consent from medical doctors and patients. The aim of this study was to examine medical doctors' and patients' attitudes toward the use of blockchain technology and interpret the findings within the framework of expectancy theory. In this questionnaire survey, we examined medical doctors' (n=90) and patients' (n=90) attitudes toward the use of blockchain technology in the management and distribution of medical information. The questionnaire comprised 8 questions that assessed attitudes toward new means of managing and distributing medical information using blockchain technology. Responses were rated on a scale that ranged from 1 (very negative) to 7 (very positive). Medical doctors (mean 3.7-5.0) reported significantly more negative attitudes than patients (mean 6.3-6.8). Furthermore, self-employed doctors reported more negative attitudes than employed doctors and university professors. To successfully introduce blockchain technology to medical data management, it is necessary to promote positive attitudes toward this technology among medical doctors, especially self-employed doctors.