Clinicians' Perspectives on the Impact of a Ransomware Attack on a Chemical Pathology Laboratory at a Tertiary...

This study aimed to explore clinicians' experiences during a ransomware attack at a public academic hospital in South Africa and assess the perceived impact of chemical pathology laboratory service disruptions on patient care.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September and December 2024. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to clinicians to gather data on their experiences during the ransomware attack, including impacts on patient care and workload. To assess changes in test requesting practices during this period, volume data for both critical (creatinine) and non-critical (vitamin B12) tests from routine annual laboratory reports were analysed.

Among the 58 respondents, 84% reported increased stress levels, while 78% indicated delayed diagnoses during this period. Laboratory test volumes decreased during the attack period compared to previous years, with reductions of 26.8% for creatinine and 34.1% for vitamin B12 tests. Clinicians primarily struggled with result retrieval and reported substantial disruptions to patient care.

This study provides valuable insights into clinicians' perspectives on the impact of a laboratory ransomware attack. The findings highlight the critical need for investment in both cybersecurity infrastructure and comprehensive contingency planning to safeguard patient safety and minimise disruptions during future cyber incidents.

This study addresses how ransomware attacks disrupt and impact clinician workflow in resource-limited hospital settings. Medical professionals should develop practical contingency plans for accessing and managing essential laboratory data during cybersecurity incidents to minimise care disruptions. The most significant finding was the dual impact of technical service disruption alongside pronounced clinician psychological stress, creating a compounded effect on healthcare delivery.