Applications of Game Theory in a Blockchain-Based Healthcare Information System
Kamalendu Pal · Advances in healthcare information systems and administration book series · 2021
Healthcare service providers are dependent on accurate information systems. Some crucial challenges are (1) improvement of patient caring services, (2) containing the deployment cost of information systems, and (3) avoiding any disturbances in its business processes at the time of data gathering and processing activities. Technological advancements are a significant driver of efficient healthcare information systems and services. By creating a rich healthcare-related data foundation and integrating technologies like the internet of things (IoT), blockchain technology, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, and big data analytics, the digital transformation in healthcare is recognized as a pivotal component to tackle these challenges. For example, it can improve diagnostics, prevention, and patient therapy, ultimately empowering caregivers to use an evidence-based method to enhance clinical decision-making. Real-time interactions permit a physician to monitor a patient 'live' instead of interaction regularly (e.g., weekly, monthly). This way, healthcare operation can provide better services. However, the IoT system creates the risk of a sensitive data breach without a highly secure infrastructure. Blockchain technology improves the reliance on a centralized authority to certify information integrity and ownership and mediate transactions and exchange of digital assets. As a result, the mining process in the blockchain is very resource-intensive; hence, miners create coalition groups to cross-check each block of transactions in return for a reward. In addition, it creates enormous competition among miners, and consequently, dishonest mining strategies (e.g., block withholding attack, selfish mining, eclipse attack) need to be controlled. Consequently, it is necessary to regulate the mining process to make miners accountable for any dishonest mining behaviours; game theory can help regulate it. Finally, this chapter presents a survey of game theory used to address the common issues in the blockchain network.