Design of Blockchain-based Precision Health-Care Using Soft Systems Methodology
Industrial Management & Data Systems
ISSN: 0263-5577
Article publication date: 15 January 2020
Issue publication date: 22 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the application of soft systems methodology (SSM) to address the problematic situation of low opt-in rates for Precision Health-Care (PHC).
Design/methodology/approach
The design logic is that when trust is enhanced and compliance is better assured, participants such as patients and their doctors would be more likely to share their medical data and diagnosis for the purpose of precision modeling.
Findings
The authors present the findings of an empirical study that confronts the design challenge of increasing participant opt-in to a PHC repository of Electronic Medical Records and genetic sequencing. Guided by SSM, the authors formulate design rules for the establishment of a trust-less platform for PHC which incorporates key principles of transparency, traceability and immutability.
Research limitations/implications
The SSM approach has been criticized for its lack of “rigour” and “replicability”. This is a fallacy in understanding its purpose – theory exploration rather than theory confirmation. Moreover, it is unlikely that quantitative modeling yields any clearer an understanding of complex, socio-technical systems.
Practical implications
The application of Blockchain, a platform for distributed ledgers, and associated technologies present a feasible approach for resolving the problematic situation of low opt-in rates.
Social implications
A consequence of low participation is the weak recall and precision of descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytic models. Factors such as cyber-crime, data violation and the potential for misuse of genetic and medical records have led to a lack of trust from key stakeholders – accessors, participants, miners and regulators – to varying degrees.
Originality/value
The application of Blockchain as a trust-enabling platform in the domain of an emerging eco-system such as precision health is novel and pioneering.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the numerous participants in the SSM portion of the research who must remain anonymous as per the requirements of the research ethics agreement. Many thanks are also due to the reviewers and Editor of IMDS for their constructive comments and input which has led to a much improved article. Paula Wingreen proof-read the first submission and Adil Bilal provided research support for the Nvivo analytics.
Citation
Sharma, R., Zhang, C., Wingreen, S.C., Kshetri, N. and Zahid, A. (2020), "Design of Blockchain-based Precision Health-Care Using Soft Systems Methodology", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 120 No. 3, pp. 608-632. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-07-2019-0401
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited