Table 6 Open codes for perceived benefits of using blockchain in HIEs

ID control, access control, data protection and privacy, security, encryption, cryptographic keys, secure network infrastructure, the anonymity of all users in the blockchain system, blockchain protects user privacy, unhackable networks, identity management, confidential and private transactions, each transaction needs patient’s authorization, user information does not link with personal information, mitigating security and privacy issues

Encryption and control

Data integrity, data integration, helping with data storage and data aggregation, data consistency through immutability

Data management

Better coordination, improved coordination, resolving interoperability conflicts, real-time monitoring of patients’ health status

Interoperable mechanism

Decentralization, empowerment of end-users, accessibility, the democratization of data, new roles defined, more participants, sharing authority, decentralized decision-making power, availability of data in P2P networks

Decentralized system

Digital facilitation of negotiation, automated verification, computerized execution, and enforcement of contracts, automatic identification and authentication of all participants, sharing information through smart contracts without a third-party intermediary

Smart contracts

Transparency of sharing, data provenance, no repudiation, transparent transaction logs, clear mechanisms, no shady activities, transparent data sharing protocols

Transparent protocols

Reduced downtime, the system is always available, optimal uptime, systems less likely will fail to perform, network downtime, no inactive time, not offline period, No system breaks

System uptime

Reduced costs of transactions, no need to pay a middleman, lower transaction costs, lower costs of data preparation, increased speed of transactions, faster data exchange

Speed and cost of transactions