Published in PLOS One on 2025-12-02, this study is presented as an attributed evidence briefing. The excerpts below are the original researchers’ words, reproduced under their Creative Commons Attribution licence. Health Signal has selected the abstract and, where needed, opening background paragraphs; the complete methods, results, limitations and references remain in the linked paper.
Original authors: Hisham E Hasan, Karem H Alzoubi, Omar F Khabour, Wael K Al-Delaimy, Kenneth W Goodman
Source: PLOS One • DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0336618
Read the complete primary study ↗ · Creative Commons Attribution licence
From the researchers
Abstract
The shift toward digital medical records and communication represents a transformative change in healthcare practices and research. However, this transition is marked by challenges related to the ethics of digital health adoption in fragile and conflict-affected areas, particularly in areas where healthcare providers lack prior training and preparation.
To assess healthcare and research professionals’ adoption, attitudes, perceptions, and ethical considerations toward digital transformation in healthcare and research across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 20 MENA countries involving 990 health professionals and researchers. Demographic data was collected, as well as questions related to the impact, attitudes, and ethics of digital health transformation. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods to identify patterns and correlations between sociodemographic factors and responses.
The results indicate that digital health transformation in the MENA region was perceived as limited to moderate across key domains, with relatively positive scores on attitudes and ethical considerations. While foundational technologies, such as electronic health records, show moderate adoption, other advanced tools remain underutilized. The study also revealed a significant lack of formal training in digital health (p < 0.001) despite high digital proficiency among participants (p < 0.001). However, ethical concerns were highlighted as key issues with strong support for enhanced bioethics literacy. These findings align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasize the need to develop inclusive policies, implement robust regulatory frameworks, create targeted educational programs, make infrastructure investments, and foster stakeholder collaboration to promote the ethical use of digital health technologies.
Digital transformation in healthcare and research is viewed positively across the MENA region, but significant gaps remain in adoption, training, and governance. Addressing these gaps will be essential to ensure safe, equitable, and sustainable digital health implementation.
Introduction
The rapid advancement of digital health technologies has transformed healthcare. Optimists believe this change will lead to an era of personalized, participative, preventive, predictive, and precision medicine (also known as “5P medicine”). This shift promises to revolutionize healthcare delivery by tailoring treatments to individual characteristics and needs [1]. In high-income countries, digital transformation has become a cornerstone of modern healthcare by offering new opportunities to enhance research practices, health outcomes, and solve longstanding problems [2,3]. This intersection between technology and personalized medicine aims to customize healthcare based on individual or group characteristics, utilizing technologies like mobile health, the internet of things, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) [4,5].
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the adoption of digital health technologies has been gradually increasing, driven by a growing recognition of their potential to improve healthcare delivery [6,7]. Leading this effort is the MENA Health Informatics Association (MENAHIA), which advocates for inclusive digital health initiatives. It emphasizes the importance of digital inclusion, ensuring accessibility to technology, infrastructure, skills, and usability [8]. As the region struggles with challenges such as the rising burden of chronic diseases, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, workforce shortages, socioeconomic diversity, and disparities in access to healthcare services, digital health initiatives can address these challenges by improving healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and quality [9].
Reading this evidence
Use the full paper to check the study design, participant selection, comparator and outcome definitions before drawing a practical conclusion. An association does not by itself show cause and effect. A reported performance measure needs its denominator and uncertainty. A finding from a particular facility, sample or time period should retain that scope when it is discussed elsewhere.
This briefing makes the source accessible within the wider technology & industry desk. It does not assess an individual patient or certify a product. When considering relevance to another health system, examine the original authors’ account of context and limitations, then seek local implementation evidence. The related reporting below provides other studies to read alongside this one; it is a topic connection, rather than a claim that their results are directly comparable.
© 2025 Hisham E Hasan, Karem H Alzoubi, Omar F Khabour, Wael K Al-Delaimy, Kenneth W Goodman. Excerpts reproduced under CC BY. Selection, formatting and contextual notes by Health Signal. The researchers are the authors of the source study, not members of Health Signal’s staff.
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