Feasibility of Implementing Blockchain and Internet of Things Technologies in Hospitals Affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Considering the importance of implementing Internet of Thing (IoT) and blockchain technologies in the health sector, and the need to assess the feasibility of each project before implementation, this study aims to assess feasibility of implementing blockchain and IoT technologies in hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020. Participants were 30 personnel of hospitals in Tabriz who were familiar with the concepts of blockchain and IoT technologies. The data collection tool was a 42-item questionnaire with five dimensions of managerial, technical, economic, educational and cultural infrastructure. SPSS v. 16 software was used to analyze the collected data. 

From the 42 components, 26 were perceived as very important. Some of which were security of data stored on the database, installation costs, managers’ inadequate understanding of information systems, the occurrence of the phenomenon of resistance to change in system administrators, providers’ willingness to acquire new skills, and structural changes necessary to accept the implementation.

The technical infrastructure has the highest importance for implementing blockchain and IoT technologies in hospitals of Tabriz, followed by managerial and educational infrastructure. Attention to these factors is essential for the implementation of these technologies.