SYSTEMATIC COMPILATION OF PUBLISHED RESEARCH ON DIGITALIZATION IN HEALTH IN TURKEY BETWEEN 2014 AND 2023

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically compile research on digitalization in healthcare published in Turkey between 2014 and 2023. It was investigated how these studies addressed digitalization in health, what research methods they used, which sample groups they worked with, what topics they covered and what results they reached. Qualitative research methods and document analysis model were used in the research. While selecting the studies, the criteria were used: covering the subject of digitalization in health, being published between 2014 and 2023, being produced based on the analysis of data obtained using scientific methods, being published in a peer-reviewed journal or being a chapter of an edited book or being a master's/doctoral thesis. 28 studies were identified in accordance with these criteria. These studies were examined and analyzed according to the years they were published, sample size, sample group, research method, data collection tool, keywords, subject and results. It was observed that the studies were published between 2019 and 2023, and there was an increase in the number of studies published especially after 2021. It was understood that the studies mainly used healthcare professionals and academic publications as samples. In accordance with the nature of qualitative research, fewer participants were used in such studies, and in accordance with the nature of quantitative research, more participants were used in such studies. It was observed that they carried out quantitative and qualitative research in equal proportions. When quantitative studies were examined, it was determined that the survey model was used much more frequently than the relational survey model. It has been observed that in quantitative studies, data are mostly collected by survey method and in most of these studies, the scales are developed by researchers. The findings of studies examining digitalization in health have shown that digitalization in health in Turkey has mostly positive effects for institutions, employees, patients and healthy individuals, but some problems and disruptions are also experienced.