Cybersecurity in eHealth: A Scoping Review of Current Research and Trends

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Cybersecurity
• Digital Health

Background:

• Healthcare is highly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, leading to significant data breaches.
• Despite increased spending, healthcare cybersecurity remains a critical concern.
• Electronic health (eHealth) systems introduce unique vulnerabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of research on cybersecurity in eHealth.
• To identify trends, research gaps, and key areas in eHealth cybersecurity.
• To inform strategies for protecting digital health data.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Literature search across ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and Web of Science.
• Analysis of 567 selected papers from an initial 3,146 identified.

Main Results:

• Blockchain emerged as the most researched technical solution for eHealth cybersecurity.
• System and communication protection were dominant cybersecurity categories.
• Research output has notably shifted towards India and China.
• Critical gaps exist in real-world implementation, user-centric approaches, and evaluation studies.

Conclusions:

• While technical solutions like blockchain are explored, practical implementation and user focus require significant development.
• Evidence-based strategies are crucial for enhancing cybersecurity in eHealth systems.
• Addressing identified gaps will improve the protection of sensitive health information and digital health system integrity.