Chapter 5: Method and Results
5.1 Method
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41 on the other hand, dealt with the main topic of Blockchain technology, to elicit
respondents' perceptions of the technology and their acceptance of managing sensitive data (EHR) with such technology.
5.1.1 Methodology
The questionnaire included a variety of questions in order to obtain the best responses from respondents—respondents with varying levels of experience with EHR.
The questions were designed to assess people’s perceptions and knowledge of EHRs, as well as their beliefs about using Blockchain to manage their EHRs. The following are the characteristics of the thesis methodology:
1. To better comprehend the different viewpoints of the general public and healthcare professionals, this study used quantitative and qualitative methods.
2. In this study, surveys are used to gather the needed data, which is mostly a quantitative strategy.
3. Although secondary in this study, the qualitative approach will be visible in the analysis of public statistics and government documents.
4. The survey was designed to have a random sample approach.
5.1.2 Survey Results
Using a questionnaire to ask people is one of the best ways to know people’s preferences, beliefs, opinions, or understanding about a certain technology. The same goes for perceptions of this study, as it is difficult to determine public opinions and impressions about managing their EHRs using Blockchain technology. That is why a questionnaire is the best tool available for this study for identifying public opinion.
This study is based on data gathered from a survey. The survey was conducted on a simple random sample consisting of 105 forms. From June 15 to September 1st, 2022, individuals who represented the general population in the UAE filled it out as accurately as they could.
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5.1.3 Population and Sampling
The survey sample included individuals from a diverse range of professions and backgrounds who came from all regions of the country in order to accurately reflect the population of the United Arab Emirates. To guarantee that the sample accurately
reflected the target audience for this study, a random sampling strategy was adopted. 105 respondents that responded to the survey made up the sample population. In some cases and only where necessary, non-random sampling was also used; this will be explained later.
The survey was sent to the entire UAEU community, which includes all students, employees, and faculty, as mature responses from the subjects were required for analytical purposes. Further, regarding the non-random sampling, certain individuals of specific professions were encouraged to fill out the questionnaire and distribute it to their colleagues in order to encourage them to participate in the survey and ensure that they were more fairly represented in the sample. To analyze the respondents properly, the sample results were divided into the following: 86 representatives of the general public, 16 healthcare professionals, and 3 healthcare management personnel.
5.1.4 Factors Affecting the Results
Certain aspects of this research had to be verified in consideration of the reasons that limited the information needed for this investigation in order to retain the study's legitimacy. The volume of data collected had a significant impact on this study's
findings. This study would have produced even more interesting results if not for these restrictions and influencing variables. The results would provide a more complete picture of how people feel about using Blockchain technology to manage EHR, which the
government could then use to develop more proactive strategies and regulations.
Validity, reliability, and generalizability are those aspects of methodological quality that are being verified in this area.
A. Validity: One limitation of this study was the possibility of inaccurately
measuring perceptions. However, this limitation could be overcome by having three contextual indicators to measure that perception and provide the required data, which are organizational, technological, and environmental
43 indicators. Another limitation is that the responses to the survey may not be
entirely truthful, which means that the indicator measurement may not be valid.
Getting healthcare professionals and healthcare management people to do the survey was a hard task because it is highly likely that they were afraid to give their answers openly and because it was related to a sensitive part of their jobs.
B. Reliability: This study is considered reliable because it could be repeated. The respondents are representatives of the total population since the attempts to reach out to people from every emirate was successful insofar as it was possible.
However, getting a larger number will yield in more great findings.
C. Generalizability: It is a factor concerning the possibility of the information being applied in another country. The study results would differ if the study were conducted in any other country where people's perceptions of new technologies would undoubtedly change depending on how the government acts, as the results here reflect the UAE people's perceptions.
All ethics rules and regulations imposed by the Research Ethics Committee of the United Arab Emirates University were followed, and on the 24th of May 2022, ethics approval was obtained from the committee. All respondents were informed of their rights, and all academic morals and ethics were followed, so personal data was not obtained or released. Moreover, all the respondents were given a brief
introduction to Blockchain before starting to answer the survey.