Applications of Blockchain Technology in Clinical Trials: Review and
Open Challenges
Abstract
Blockchain technology has disclosed unprecedented opportunities in the
healthcare sector by unlocking the true value of interoperability.
Specifically, the striking features of blockchain technology, such as
data provenance, transparency, decentralized transaction validation, and
immutability can help to compensate for stringent data management issues
(e.g., patient recruitment, persistent monitoring, data management, and
data analytics and accurate reporting) in clinical trials (CTs).
Although several research studies show that blockchain solutions help to
improve patient retention, data integrity, privacy, and ensure CTs
compliance with regulatory policies, a comprehensive survey on this
topic is lacking. In this survey, we provide insights into the adoption
of blockchain technology in CTs. We categorize and classify the
literature by devising a meticulous taxonomy of the decentralized tasks
of CT and practices based on indispensable parameters. Furthermore, we
provide insights on works in progress towards deploying blockchain
solutions in CTs. Finally, we identify and discuss several challenges
that hinder the successful implementation of blockchain technologies in
CTs.