Medical students' perceptions of a blockchain-based decentralized work history and credentials portfolio: Qualitative feasibility study

Abstract

Background: Increased digitization of health care might challenge some of the trust functions that are established in a traditionalhealth care system. We have, with the concept of VerifyMed, developed a decentralized service for work history and competenceverification, as a means to increase trust in the virtual interaction between a patient and a caregiver, mitigate administrativeburden, and provide patient-reported outcomes seamlessly for health professionals.Objective: This research aimed to validate the use case of a decentralized credentials service for health care professionals inNorway. We also aimed to evaluate the proof-of-concept of VerifyMed, a blockchain-based credential service for health careprofessionals.Methods: A qualitative approach was applied with data collection through 9 semistructured interviews and 2 focus groups (onewith 4 participants and the other with 5 participants). The System Usability Scale (SUS) was used as a part of the interviews.Data were analyzed through the principles of systematic text condensation. The recruitment of participants ended when it wasconcluded that the data had reached saturation.Results: The following 5 themes were identified from the interviews and focus groups: (1) the need for aggregated storage ofwork-and study-related verification, (2) trust in a virtual health care environment, (3) the potential use of patient feedback, (4)trust in blockchain technology, and (5) improvements of the VerifyMed concept. The SUS questionnaire gave a score of 69.7.Conclusions: This study has validated the need for a decentralized system where health care professionals can control theircredentials and, potentially, their reputation. Future work should update the VerifyMed system according to this input. Weconcluded that a decentralized system for the storage of work-related verifiable credentials could increase trust in a virtualizedhealth care system.