Documentation, Informaiton & Knowledge ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (6): 20-34.doi: 10.13366/j.dik.2022.06.020

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Information Sharing of Electronic Medical Records: The Transformative Intervention of Blockchain

  

  • Online:2022-11-10 Published:2023-02-24

Abstract:  [Purpose/Significance] Blockchain is a possible means to solve the dilemma of electronic medical record information sharing. It is necessary to combine the affordances provided by blockchain at the micro level with the social transformation driven at the macro level, so as to comprehensively analyze how to use blockchain to effectively solve the social challenges of medical record information sharing.[Design/Methodology] Guided by Social Transformation Theory and Affordance Actualization Theory, this study uses the literature content analysis method to sort out the transformative interventions situation types caused by the application of blockchain to solve the social challenges. In addition,blockchain affordances in societal-level are also analyzed. Finally, through a mapping analysis of the transformative interventions situation types and blockchain affordances, the corresponding realization mechanism models about how to adopting blockchain technology to solve the challenges of medical record information sharing are conducted. [Findings/Conclusion] Although blockchain may facilitate information sharing of electronic medical records because of its technical characteristics, it is necessary to evaluate affordances in social-level from the perspective of stakeholders when they adopt blockchain to realize different types of social transformation, and ensure the consistency between user’s capability of using blockchain systems with their requirements. [Originality/Value] This study explores the complex relationship between electronic medical record information sharing and blockchain-driven transformation interventions from a perspective of macro social transformation and micro affordance actualization, and proposes the realization mechanism models, which provide directions to issue relevant policies for electronic medical record information sharing.

Key words: Information sharing, Electronic medical record, Blockchain, Transformative intervention