Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34533470›Full record

SynthesisJournal of medical Internet research2021

Applications of Blockchain in the Medical Field: Narrative Review.

Yi Xie, Jiayao Zhang, Honglin Wang, Pengran Liu, Songxiang Liu, Tongtong Huo, Yu-Yu Duan, Zhe Dong, Lin Lu, Zhewei Ye

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Biomedical blockchain with practical implementations and quantitative evaluations: a systematic review.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2024
    Pooled it
  2. Home-based treatment for patients with hematological cancer in Denmark-A national overview.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Enhancing Cancer Care through Blockchain Technology.Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Integrating blockchain technology with artificial intelligence for the diagnosis of tibial plateau fractures.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2025
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. A Conceptual Framework for Blockchain Enhanced Information Modeling for Healing and Therapeutic Design.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yi XieDepartment of Orthopedics Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5082-9173
Jiayao ZhangDepartment of Orthopedics Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9694-7404
Honglin WangDepartment of Orthopedics Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4558-0489
Pengran LiuDepartment of Orthopedics Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4151-6014
Songxiang LiuDepartment of Orthopedics Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9257-2406
Tongtong HuoLaboratory of Intelligent Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1960-0167
Yu-Yu DuanLaboratory of Intelligent Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9693-702X
Zhe DongWuhan Academy of Intelligent Medicine, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6875-2450
Lin Lu *Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3912-7757
Zhewei Ye *Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0002-2730-9820

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAs a distributed technology, blockchain has attracted increasing attention from stakeholders in the medical industry. Although previous studies have analyzed blockchain applications from the perspectives of technology, business, or patient care, few studies have focused on actual use-case scenarios of blockchain in health care. In particular, the outbreak of COVID-19 has led to some new ideas for the application of blockchain in medical practice.

objectiveThis paper aims to provide a systematic review of the current and projected uses of blockchain technology in health care, as well as directions for future research. In addition to the framework structure of blockchain and application scenarios, its integration with other emerging technologies in health care is discussed.

methodsWe searched databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, IEEE, and Springer using a combination of terms related to blockchain and health care. Potentially relevant papers were then compared to determine their relevance and reviewed independently for inclusion. Through a literature review, we summarize the key medical scenarios using blockchain technology.

resultsWe found a total of 1647 relevant studies, 60 of which were unique studies that were included in this review. These studies report a variety of uses for blockchain and their emphasis differs. According to the different technical characteristics and application scenarios of blockchain, we summarize some medical scenarios closely related to blockchain from the perspective of technical classification. Moreover, potential challenges are mentioned, including the confidentiality of privacy, the efficiency of the system, security issues, and regulatory policy.

conclusionsBlockchain technology can improve health care services in a decentralized, tamper-proof, transparent, and secure manner. With the development of this technology and its integration with other emerging technologies, blockchain has the potential to offer long-term benefits. Not only can it be a mechanism to secure electronic health records, but blockchain also provides a powerful tool that can empower users to control their own health data, enabling a foolproof health data history and establishing medical responsibility.

Indexed as

BlockchainCOVID-19ConfidentialityData ManagementElectronic Health RecordsHumansSARS-CoV-2blockchainCOVID-19electronic health recordshealth carehealth datareviewsmart health care

Identifiers

PMID34533470
PMCPMC8555946

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.