Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current Regulations
The use of digital health technologies, including telemedicine and teledentistry, has become a necessity in healthcare due to the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic. These technologies allow for the reduction of the workload of healthcare providers and the improvement of patient outcomes in cases of remote monito...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Oral |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6373/3/2/14 |
| _version_ | 1797593162685874176 |
|---|---|
| author | Olga Di Fede Gaetano La Mantia Mario G. C. A. Cimino Giuseppina Campisi |
| author_facet | Olga Di Fede Gaetano La Mantia Mario G. C. A. Cimino Giuseppina Campisi |
| author_sort | Olga Di Fede |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of digital health technologies, including telemedicine and teledentistry, has become a necessity in healthcare due to the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic. These technologies allow for the reduction of the workload of healthcare providers and the improvement of patient outcomes in cases of remote monitoring, diagnosis, and communication. While there are no doubtful benefits, there are some counterparts, such as concerns about clinical risks, data security, and privacy protection. This paper aims to review the regulations regarding the use of digital health apps and software in healthcare. This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the five-step framework of Arksey and O’Malley. Study selection was based on eligibility criteria that were defined using the population-exposure framework. The review of the articles selected (<i>n</i> = 24) found that the majority focused on data security policies in the healthcare industry, highlighting the need for comprehensive regulations and app control systems to protect patient data. The articles also emphasized the requirement for more appropriate research and policy initiatives to improve data security practices and better address privacy and safety challenges related to health-related apps. The review recognized that papers did not report consistent standards in professional obligation and informed consent in online medical consultations, with potential risks for data privacy, medical liabilities, and ethical issues. Digital health has already revolutionized medical service delivery through technology but faces some challenges, including the lack of standardized protocols for handling sensitive patient data and the absence of common legislative provisions, raising concerns about confidentiality and security. To address these issues and deficiencies, regulatory compliance is crucial to clarify and harmonize regulations and provide guidelines for doctors and the health system. In conclusion, regulating patient data, clarifying provisions, and addressing informed patients are critical and urgent steps in maximizing usage and successful implementation of telemedicine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:03:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2172038499b944bba306a1f45e19e261 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6373 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:03:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oral |
| spelling | doaj.art-2172038499b944bba306a1f45e19e2612023-11-18T11:58:31ZengMDPI AGOral2673-63732023-04-013215516510.3390/oral3020014Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current RegulationsOlga Di Fede0Gaetano La Mantia1Mario G. C. A. Cimino2Giuseppina Campisi3Department Di.Chir.On.S., University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment Di.Chir.On.S., University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment Di.Chir.On.S., University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, ItalyThe use of digital health technologies, including telemedicine and teledentistry, has become a necessity in healthcare due to the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic. These technologies allow for the reduction of the workload of healthcare providers and the improvement of patient outcomes in cases of remote monitoring, diagnosis, and communication. While there are no doubtful benefits, there are some counterparts, such as concerns about clinical risks, data security, and privacy protection. This paper aims to review the regulations regarding the use of digital health apps and software in healthcare. This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the five-step framework of Arksey and O’Malley. Study selection was based on eligibility criteria that were defined using the population-exposure framework. The review of the articles selected (<i>n</i> = 24) found that the majority focused on data security policies in the healthcare industry, highlighting the need for comprehensive regulations and app control systems to protect patient data. The articles also emphasized the requirement for more appropriate research and policy initiatives to improve data security practices and better address privacy and safety challenges related to health-related apps. The review recognized that papers did not report consistent standards in professional obligation and informed consent in online medical consultations, with potential risks for data privacy, medical liabilities, and ethical issues. Digital health has already revolutionized medical service delivery through technology but faces some challenges, including the lack of standardized protocols for handling sensitive patient data and the absence of common legislative provisions, raising concerns about confidentiality and security. To address these issues and deficiencies, regulatory compliance is crucial to clarify and harmonize regulations and provide guidelines for doctors and the health system. In conclusion, regulating patient data, clarifying provisions, and addressing informed patients are critical and urgent steps in maximizing usage and successful implementation of telemedicine.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6373/3/2/14social appWhatsAppGDPRHIPAAsensitive datamobile health |
| spellingShingle | Olga Di Fede Gaetano La Mantia Mario G. C. A. Cimino Giuseppina Campisi Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current Regulations Oral social app GDPR HIPAA sensitive data mobile health |
| title | Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current Regulations |
| title_full | Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current Regulations |
| title_fullStr | Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current Regulations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current Regulations |
| title_short | Protection of Patient Data in Digital Oral and General Health Care: A Scoping Review with Respect to the Current Regulations |
| title_sort | protection of patient data in digital oral and general health care a scoping review with respect to the current regulations |
| topic | social app GDPR HIPAA sensitive data mobile health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6373/3/2/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olgadifede protectionofpatientdataindigitaloralandgeneralhealthcareascopingreviewwithrespecttothecurrentregulations AT gaetanolamantia protectionofpatientdataindigitaloralandgeneralhealthcareascopingreviewwithrespecttothecurrentregulations AT mariogcacimino protectionofpatientdataindigitaloralandgeneralhealthcareascopingreviewwithrespecttothecurrentregulations AT giuseppinacampisi protectionofpatientdataindigitaloralandgeneralhealthcareascopingreviewwithrespecttothecurrentregulations |