Digital Transformation Dissertations
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Item Use of Blockchain Technology in reducing drug supply shortages in the Irish public healthcare system through cross-industry data-sharing of pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chain data.(2025-05) Cronin, DonalThe Irish public healthcare system is facing growing challenges due to recurring drug supply shortages, which significantly impact patient care and healthcare operations. This research investigates whether blockchain technology can serve as a viable solution to enhance transparency and data-sharing between pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers in Ireland, with the ultimate aim of reducing such shortages. The primary research question explores the feasibility of using blockchain to enable timely and secure sharing of manufacturing and supply chain data across public and private stakeholders. Supporting objectives include identifying current barriers in data access, evaluating blockchain’s benefits and technical integration challenges, and gauging stakeholder demand for cross-industry collaboration. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews. Surveys were completed by 45 professionals from healthcare, life sciences, supply chain, and regulatory backgrounds, selected through purposive sampling. The survey gathered perceptions on drug shortages, blockchain awareness, trust in datasharing, and governance preferences. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, Analysis of Variance, and Chi-square testing. The qualitative phase consisted of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six subject matter experts across the life sciences and healthcare domains. Thematic analysis was used to extract insights aligned with the study’s core objectives. Findings revealed broad awareness of drug shortages across all sectors, with manufacturing delays, supply chain fragility and quality, and lack of real-time data identified as critical factors. Participants viewed blockchain as a potentially transformative technology, particularly for improving traceability, trust, and data integrity. However, technical barriers, such as integration complexity, data standardisation, and regulatory compliance, were seen as significant adoption hurdles. Upstream processes, such as provision of quality raw material, and downstream processes, such as Ireland’s market size and drug approval practices, were highlighted and present significant challenges to drug manufacturing organisations. A consistent theme across interviews was the need for secure, permissioned data environments and proof-of-concept pilots to build trust and validate impact. The study concludes that blockchain holds promise in alleviating drug shortages through enhanced data-sharing and visibility, but successful adoption will depend on cross-sector collaboration, regulatory alignment, and demonstrable pilot outcomes. Recommendations include the development of national governance frameworks, implementation of limitedscale blockchain pilots, and the creation of funding models that support public-private partnerships to ensure system-wide scalability and sustainability.Item Implementing Virtual Wards: A Case Study on Doccla’s Acute Hospital Care Transformation(2025-05) Mullaney, JohnThis research study demonstrated that successful implementation of virtual wards in Ireland requires addressing a combination of factors. These factors span across technical, organisational, individual and process related considerations. Virtual wards were designed to deliver hospital level care to suitable patients in the comfort of their own homes, enabled through remote monitoring and digital technologies. It explored how virtual wards could be introduced effectively into the Irish healthcare system, including what lessons could be drawn from existing models of delivery elsewhere. This was enabled through a comprehensive literature review. Doccla was chosen as the focus of the case study, as they are the current supplier of the virtual ward service being piloted in Ireland. The research employed a qualitative case study methodology, situated within an interpretivist paradigm. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with five strategically selected healthcare professionals, representing diverse clinical and technical roles. Two participants had direct experience with virtual wards, while three offered perspectives from adjacent areas. Purposive sampling ensured participants possessed relevant expertise and insight. To identify patterns and relationships across responses, data was systematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis framework. Eight key themes were identified, Patient Experience and Access, Resource Allocation, Staffing and Training, Technology and Infrastructure, Communication and Engagement, Clinical Governance, Integration of Care, and Implementation Strategy. Participants highlighted benefits such as high patient satisfaction, earlier discharge, and reduced hospital pressure. However, they also identified key challenges, including digital literacy gaps, poor internet connectivity, limited staff capacity, and the need for clear governance procedures and training for both staff and patients. Based on these findings, seven recommendations were developed to support healthcare providers and decision makers, in planning and delivering a successful virtual ward implementation in Ireland. The research offered practical guidance for expanding digital models of care, with the aim of improving system capacity while maintaining patient safety and quality of care.Item A Data-Driven Approach to mRNA Vaccine Acceptance in Ireland: Leveraging Big Data for Public Health Strategy(2025-05) Shaji, NicymolIn this study, it was revealed that uptake of mRNA vaccines in Ireland is shaped by a complex interplay of demographic, social, and informational determinants. In the context of the COVID19 pandemic, a data-driven approach was employed to establish the determinants of vaccine uptake, to inform public health policy. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among students, parents, healthcare workers, and the general population. Information was captured on the history of vaccination among respondents, willingness to receive future mRNA vaccines, familiarity with vaccine technology, perceived adverse effects, and trust in various sources of information. The results showed that overall mRNA vaccine acceptance was high but with persistent hesitancy among some subgroups due to safety concerns, apprehensions over long-term adverse effects, and a lack of understanding about how mRNA works. Participants who relied on health professionals and official health bodies as primary sources of information had the highest levels of acceptance. On the other hand, participants exposed primarily to vaccine-related information on social media or through word of mouth were more likely to be sceptical or hesitant. Misinformation, especially on social media, emerged as a significant stimulant for scepticism and confusion. The findings underscore the need for clear, open, and accessible public health communication in supporting vaccine confidence. The health institution and professional trust greatly boosted willingness to get mRNA vaccines, and hence the value of bringing in trusted individuals as part of future outreach efforts. Targeted communication that addresses directly held concerns, particularly in high-hesitancy populations such as those in rural or underserved settings, is essential. Equipping healthcare professionals with tools and training to address misinformation and encourage informed decision-making is advised by the research. While the study provided valuable quantitative findings, additional research employing qualitative or longitudinal study designs is suggested to determine shifting public opinion and underlying psychological reasons for vaccine hesitancy. The findings provide pragmatic recommendations for designing effective communication programs and enhancing public trust in vaccine programs in Ireland and other regionsItem Leveraging AI And Genomics In Drug Discovery And Identification In India(2025-05) Krishna, AbhiramiDrug development and personalized treatment are changing as a result of the combination of genomics and artificial intelligence (AI), which holds promise for resolving India's complicated healthcare system. Given that more than 60% of deaths in India are caused by chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular ailments, the country urgently needs accurate and affordable medical treatments. This study investigates how AI may be used to drive population-specific drug development and targeted therapy by leveraging India's enormous genetic diversity, as demonstrated by programs like the IndiGen program. Important phases of the drug development pipeline are being accelerated by AI technologies, such as generative models, deep learning, and machine learning. These include of lead optimization, virtual screening, target discovery, and drug toxicity and efficacy prediction. In order to find new biomarkers, disease pathways, and drug resistance mechanisms, AI also makes it easier to analyze complicated genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic information. Therefore, by providing individualized treatment based on a person's genetic composition, AI facilitates the shift from generic to precision medicine. Even with the quick developments, AI is still not widely used in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries in India. Widespread optimism over AI's revolutionary potential was emphasized by a national survey of 207 stakeholders, but it also identified obstacles such a lack of technical competence, fragmented data ecosystems, high implementation costs, and inadequate infrastructure. Concerns over ethical justice, data privacy, and the opaque "black-box" character of many AI models were also mentioned by respondents as issues that impede clinical trust and regulatory acceptance. The study highlights the necessity of making strategic investments in infrastructure, education, and interdisciplinary cooperation in order to fully reap the benefits of AI-driven genomics. To guarantee fair access and responsible innovation, it also urges the implementation of flexible legal frameworks, standardized data standards, and moral protections. AI's impact can be further increased through public-private partnerships, targeted rare disease research, and the incorporation of digital health tools. By tackling these issues, India can fully utilize AI and genomics to transform drug discovery, enhance diagnostics, and provide individualized, reasonably priced treatments that are suited to its heterogeneous populace. The study emphasizes that India is in a strong position to lead the world in precision medicine and AIpowered pharmaceutical development with focused efforts.Item Bioprinting Solutions for Diabetic Kidney Failure: The Future of Tissue-Engineered Organs(2025-05) Amin, ReemaIn this study I determined the feasibility of 3D bioprinting for diabetic kidney failure management, discussing its suitability, economic pros and cons, and practical barriers when moving to a clinical setting with bioprinted kidneys. Insights were generated using a dual method of analysis, which involved a systematic review of literature and direct surveys with diabetic patients, their family members, and medical professionals. The primary objective was to determine whether 3D bioprinting is a viable and acceptable alternative for kidney transplants, primarily to address the scarcity of available organs and to control diabetes associated with kidney complications. Though the participants’ awareness of the bioprinting technology was low, the study identified potential for bioprinted kidneys when these were proven safe and effective. The rate of kidney-related hospitalizationsin survey participants was associated with increased willingness to consider bioprinting for kidney replacement. Analysis of the research and data showed that there are number of significant barriers to widespread implementation averaging safety concerns, excessive cost, unclear regulations and insufficient clinical preparation. However, the entry of superior biomaterials, stem cell-derived organoids, and cost-effective printing technologies is evidence that the technology is advancing fast to practicality. The research shows that bioprinted kidneys are not yet a clinical possibility for kidney replacement but the preparation for the incorporation of bioprinted kidneys in medical practice is developing rapidly. Patients who were afflicted by kidney failure expressed the greatest enthusiasm for this technology, showing the need for personal as well as cost-effective treatments. In creating a readily accessible knowledge data bank, this dissertation advances the scholarly and clinical arguments about kidney bioprinting programs. To promote the incorporation of bioprinted kidneys into day-to-day healthcare, the study recommends increased public education, the development of ethical frameworks, and policy provisions in unethical provision