Development of a minimum data set for a blockchain-based personal health records (PHRs), for patient/physician interaction in family medicine.

Abstract

Background: The primary requirement for a capable patient health record (PHR) that can interact appropriately with the family medicine system and collect and share qualified data is a minimum data set (MDS) aligned with family medicine's functions and goals. The aim of this research was to determine the MDS for a blockchain-based PHR system that can effectively interact with family medicine providers and collect and share qualified data. This MDS is intended to be applicable to all members of the community covered by family medicine.

Materials and methods: This applied study was conducted in 2022 in a cross-sectional and descriptive approach in three phases. In the first phase, a content analysis related to the research objectives was conducted in scientific databases, search engines, and websites of the centers and scientific research organizations with publications and policy-making in this field. Consequently, 11 studies were selected for use in the second and third phases. In the second phase, to determine information needs, a researcher-developed questionnaire including 17 classes was given to 50 people under the cover of the family medicine plan in Shiraz city. By choosing one of the two options "Yes" or "No" by them, the necessary data classes were determined. In the third phase, the second researcher-developed questionnaire was designed and administered to 100 family physicians in Shiraz city. This questionnaire included the data elements corresponding to the data classes approved in the previous phase. The family physicians were asked to rate the importance of each data element using a Likert scale with five options, ranging from "very unimportant" to "very important." The necessary data elements were determined based on these scores.

Results: In the first questionnaire, 16 of the 17 data classes received approval from individuals covered by the family medicine plan. Consequently, a questionnaire comprising 16 classes and 105 data elements was administered to the family physicians. Ultimately, the MDS was determined to include 16 classes and 72 data elements.

Conclusions: Determining essential data elements, especially for patient/physician interaction in family medicine, should be such that they can be managed by the person while being comprehensive and providing sufficient help to the physician during the treatment process. This MDS can be used to interact with and refer PHRs to other physicians and specialists, as well as help interoperability between the PHR and other health systems, such as hospital information systems (HIS) and electronic health records (EHRs).