Table 1.
Characteristic of included studies with their quality assessment using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist.
| Reference | Year | Country | Block chain technology | Data type | Benefits | Challenges | Quality assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saia et al. | 2021 | Italy | Public blockchain | Sensor data | Robust against network issues | Security risks | Low risk |
| Alshahrani et al. | 2021 | KSA | Public blockchain | Electronic health records Pharmaceutical supply chain |
Improves security, reduces paper work and amplifies verification inefficiency | Implementation cost | Low risk |
| Pandey et al. | 2020 | Kenya | Public blockchain (AarogyaChain) | Electronic health records Clinical trial data |
Management of pharmaceutical supply chain, clinical trial record management | Processing speed | Moderate risk |
| Tanwar et al. | 2020 | Brazil | Hyperledger Fabric platform | Electronic health records | Health information exchange | Implementation cost | Moderate risk |
| Alsufyani et al. | 2020 | KSA | Ethereum Hyperledger Fabric platform Private blockchain |
Electronic health records | Improves autonomy, immutable and anonymity | Security risks Scalability |
Moderate risk |
| Albahli et al. | 2020 | KSA | Public blockchain | Electronic health records | Smart healthcare system | Implementation cost | Moderate risk |
| Shuaib et al. | 2019 | KSA | Public blockchain Private blockchain Proof-of-work |
Electronic health records | Personalized healthcare and tracking patients' data | Scalability | Moderate risk |
| Sylim et al. | 2018 | Philippines | Ethereum Hyperledger Fabric platform Public blockchain |
Transaction records | Improved the traceability of falsified drugs | Simulated network needed | Moderate risk |
| Tseng et al. | 2018 | Taiwan | Gcoin platform Proof-of-work Private blockchain |
Transaction records | Transparent drug transaction data | Implementation cost | Moderate risk |
| Griggs et al. | 2018 | USA | Ethereum Public blockchain Proof-of-concept |
Sensor data | Automated patient monitoring | Inefficient data ingestion | Low risk |
| Rahman et al. | 2018 | KSA | Ethereum Hyperledger Fabric platform Private blockchain |
Multimedia | Diagnosis data shared securely with mobile medical practitioners | Upload time | Low risk |
| Jo et al. | 2018 | Korea | Ethereum Proof-of-work Private blockchain |
Sensor data | Ensured transparency, data security, and data storage | Security risks | Low risk |
| Saia | 2018 | Italy | Public blockchain | Sensor data | Ensured anonymity and immutability | Implementation cost | Moderate risk |
| Kuo et al. | 2018 | USA | Private blockchain | Electronic medical records | Enhanced privacy | Security risks | Low risk |
| Zhang et al. | 2018 | USA | Ethereum | Electronic health records | Access control and data integrity | Security risks Scalability |
Low risk |
| Li et al. | 2018 | China | Ethereum | Electronic medical records | Data integrity | Security risks Scalability |
Moderate risk |
| Benchoufi et al. | 2017 | France | Proof-of-concept | Clinical trial records | Improved the transparency and processing of data Traceability of the consent protocol |
Lack of coherence | Low risk |
| Toyoda et al. | 2017 | Japan | Ethereum Proof-of-concept |
Transaction records | Supply chain system for anti-counterfeits | Security risks | Low risk |
| Ichikawa et al. | 2017 | Japan | Hyperledger Fabric platform | Electronic health records Sensor data |
Robust against network issues | Security risks | Low risk |
| Dorri et al. | 2017 | Australia | Public blockchain | Electronic health records Sensor data |
Reduced validation time | Lack of transparency | Low risk |
| Saravanan et al. | 2017 | India | Ethereum | Remote patient monitoring | Access control | Security risks | Moderate risk |
| Nugent et al. | 2016 | UK | Ethereum | Clinical trial records | Improved the transparency of clinical trials Monitors and manages records |
Scalability Implementation cost |
Low risk |