Adoption, implementation, definitions, and future of blockchain technology in ophthalmology

In this era of cutting-edge research and digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly penetrated all subspecialties, including ophthalmology. Managing AI data and analytics is cumbersome, and implementing blockchain technology has made this task less challenging. Blockchain technology is an advanced mechanism with a robust database that allows the unambiguous sharing of widespread information within a business model or network. The data is stored in blocks that are linked together in chains. Since its inception in 2008, blockchain technology has grown over the years, and its novel use in ophthalmology has been less well documented. This section on current ophthalmology discusses the novel use and future of blockchain technology for intraocular lens power calculation and refractive surgery workup, ophthalmic genetics, payment methods, international data documentation, retinal images, global myopia pandemic, virtual pharmacy, and drug compliance and treatment. The authors have also provided valuable insights into various terminologies and definitions used in blockchain technology.

Analysis on the Integration of Blockchain and the Construction of Harmonious Doctor-patient Relationship in the New Era / 中国医学伦理学

In the era of information technology, the construction of a harmonious doctor-patient relationship is inseparable from the support of information technology. The use of blockchain technology in the medical and health field plays an important role in promoting the construction of a harmonious doctorpatient relationship in the new era. Discuss the organic integration of blockchain technology and the construction of a harmonious doctor-patient relationship in the new era at the three levels of technology, method, and path, and find that the blockchain can provide both technical support and method support for the construction of a harmonious doctor-patient relationship in the new era; Blockchain technology is conducive to promoting the construction of a harmonious doctor-patient relationship in the new era by developing distributed personal lifelong medical accounts, establishing a shared and interactive medical resource service community, and designing a tracking management model for the medical service process.

Antecedents of the adoption of blockchain to enhance patients' health information management in South Africa

Background: Currently, the South African public healthcare system is hampered by a lack of effective patient data management. This leads to, amongst other challenges, a lack of transparency in the management of patients' health information and unsecure medical records. Blockchain, on the other hand, can make healthcare records more secure, easily auditable, and hence more reliable. These advantages, among others, make Blockchain an appealing technology for managing patients' health information in the South African context. Objectives: The study investigated the antecedents of the adoption of blockchain technology as a tool to improve the management of patients' health information in the South African public healthcare sector. Method: The four pillars of a health information system (strong leadership, contingency plan, security and privacy, and IT or vendor support) were adopted as the theoretical grounding for the study. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with IT specialists and healthcare professionals working in the public healthcare sector. Results: The study identified 11 antecedents that can be related to the four pillars of a health information system. These antecedents must be addressed for blockchain to contribute meaningfully to enhancing patients' health information management in South Africa. Conclusion: Although blockchain can contribute meaningfully to addressing health information management challenges in South Africa, contextual factors need to be considered for it to fulfil its promises. It is anticipated that the study findings will help stakeholders in the South African public healthcare sector to make informed decisions in their quest to deploy technology innovations like blockchain.

Digital health and self-management of chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review

Background: With the rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the concept of digital self-management presents great opportunities for relieving some of the burdens healthcare systems face. However, for this to be realised, effective use of digital health in self-management and assessment is essential. Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to identify social determinants and cognitive factors with potential influence on digital health use in self-management of chronic medical conditions associated with NCDs in SSA. Method: The 5-stage scoping review framework was used to search, identify, and filter publications over a 10-year period from two major databases, Google Scholar and Pubmed. Based on the inclusion criteria, a total of 12 documents were chosen for analysis. Results: Findings reveal that social determinants such as cultural values and societal practices demand a rethinking of how digital health for self-management of chronic diseases are designed and developed for use in SSA, whereas a cognitive factor such as self-efficacy is central in digital health use in self-management of chronic conditions, particularly in areas like adherence to medication, diet and exercise programmes. Conclusion: Owing to the unique characteristics of digital health users in SSA, technologies and content (particularly those for self-management of chronic diseases) should be tailored to the diverse needs of the population. It is through this that the region can fully benefit from the potential of digital health use in self-management of chronic diseases associated with NCDs.

Research on Application of Intelligent Tracing System for IVD Reagents Based on Blockchain Technology / 中国医疗器械杂志

In recent years, the IVD industry has developed rapidly based on the increasing market demand, and plays an important role in disease prevention, clinical diagnosis, health monitoring and guiding treatment. Therefore, followed quality and safety issues are highly concerned. The unique advantages of blockchain technology, decentralization, distrust and non-tampering, can write into trusted node data in every link covering production, circulation and usage of IVD reagents, and establish a distributed ledger with full backup, which makes the anti-conterfeiting and traceability for IVD reagents possible. We discuss whole process intelligent tracing system for IVD reagents based on blockchain technology. Through the strong mechanism of pre-supervision and post-punishment, the source of reagents can be traced, quality and responsibility can be investigated, and the medical inspection quality and diagnostic safety can be guarded.

Evaluation of the Application Status Quo of Blockchain Technology in China ’s Pharmaceutical Field / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To evaluate t he c urrent status of the application of blockchain technology in China ’s pharmaceutical field，and to provide direction and decision support for its wide application and development in the domestic pharmaceutical field. METHODS：Retrieved from Embase ，PubMed，Cochrane library ，CBM，CNKI，VIP and Wanfang databases during the inception of databases to Sept. 30th，2019，the studies on application status of blockchain technology in China ’s pharmaceutical field were collected；descriptive analysis was conducted for research type ，publication time ，main research fields and existing problems. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS ：A total of 60 literatures were included ，and all of them were Chinese literatures. Among them ，38 literatures were reviews ，19 were original researches ，2 were dissertation ，1 was conference paper. The publication time range was from 2016 to 2019. The application of blockchain technology in the main pharmaceutical fields is to promote the sharing of electronic medical record data ，personal health data ，clinical research data and genomic data ；the traceable path is mainly provided in medical insurance audits ，drug quality traceability and anti-counterfeiting ，medical devices and medical supplies traceability. These applications are still in the preliminary theoretical verification or trial stage. At present ，there are still some limitations or problems in the relevant policies and application standards ，data storage space and processing ，data privacy and security ，and professionals in China ’s pharmaceutical field. However ，it has high application value and potential in medical data sharing ， reducing treatment costs ， improving medical claim system ， strengthening medical management and optimizing medical decision-making.

Tecnologia Blockchain: inovação em pagamentos por serviços ambientais / Blockchain Technology: Innovation in Payments for Environmental Services

Os problemas socioecológicos são complexos e multidimensionais, envolvendo pelo menos a dimensão ambiental, social, econômica, política e institucional. Os problemas relacionados ao uso múltiplo dos recursos hídricos, a revitalização de bacias hidrográficas e a recuperação de rios urbanos têm colocado novos desafios para a sociedade, os quais requerem soluções inovadoras. Algumas soluções propostas, como a adoção de esquemas de Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais (PSA), têm por objetivo incentivar que as pessoas adotem ações direcionadas para resolver problemas específicos em troca de incentivos econômicos. Mas essas soluções possuem limitações relativas a continuidade das ações após o suprimento dos incentivos. Os PSA tradicionais são baseados na moeda oficial de um país e, consequentemente, podem ser interrompidos na ocorrência de crises econômicas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é apresentar e discutir uma proposta geral de gestão para a Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Jundiaí baseada na adoção de uma moeda complementar criada com suporte da tecnologia do blockchain. A moeda complementar é a criptomoeda denominada Aqua que visa incentivar ações, por exemplo, como a recuperação das áreas de proteção ambiental em áreas rurais, assim como, ações ambientais em áreas urbanas. A criptomoeda Aqua busca exercer a função de meio de troca e sua circulação ocorrerá somente dentro da rede de usuários que a aceitarem. Visando evitar o efeito negativo de ações especulativas, recomenda-se que a criptomoeda Aqua não seja conversível em reais ou outra criptomoeda.

Socioecological problems are complex and multidimensional, involving at least an environmental, socio, economic, political and institutional dimensions. Proble-ms related to multiple uses of water resources, watershed revitalization and urban river recovery have placed new challenges on society and require innovative solutions. Proposed solutions, such as payment for ecosystem services (PES), aim to encourage people to adopt actions to solve specific issues in exchange for economic incentives. These solutions have limitations related to continuity of actions after the economic incentives cease. Thus, the main goal of this paper is to introduce and discuss a proposal to manage the Jundiai River Watershed that includes the adoption of a complementary currency created with blockchain technology, the Aqua. The main purposes of this cryptocurrency arethe recovery of riparian forests in rural zones and environmental actions in urban areas. The cryptocurrency Aqua would act as a medium of exchange and circulate only within the network of establishments that accept it. Seeking to avoid the negative consequences of speculative actions, we recommend the Aqua is not convertible into Reais or other cryptocurrencies.