COVENANT UNIVERSITY

CANAAN LAND, OTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

AN ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

FOR THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE

CSC 815

ICT AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

BY

OLORI Oghenemaero Oghale

MATRIC NUMBER: 23PBF02623

PROGRAM: MSc Bioinformatics

SUBMITTED

MARCH, 2024
 The Risks and Benefits of Big Data in

Biomedical Research

Introduction

The digitization of healthcare data has ushered in the era of big data, presenting

both opportunities and challenges within the biomedical research landscape. This

literature review aims to explore the multifaceted nature of big data in healthcare,

examining its potential benefits, associated risks, and proposed solutions.

Overview of Big Data in Healthcare

In response to the digitization of healthcare data, the era of big data has opened

doors in the sector. Over the past ten years, the exponential growth in data has

created a new domain within the fields of information technology (IT) and data

science called big data. The term "big data" is commonly used to describe large

amounts of data that are too big and difficult to handle using traditional database

management system techniques (Raja et al., 2020).

Big data refers to large amounts of data that are too big and difficult to handle with

traditional database management system techniques. The concept of big data is not
new, but its definition is constantly evolving. In 1997, Michael Cox and David

Ellsworth coined the term "big data" for the first time in a paper presented at an

IEEE conference to explain the visual representation of data and the challenges it

presents (Raja et al., 2020).

Benefits of Big Data in Healthcare

Big data, characterized by its voluminous and complex nature, offers

transformative potential in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Notably, the

application of big data analytics enables evidence-based medicine, personalized

medical approaches, and improved chronic disease management (Rakha et al.,

2022). Furthermore, predictive analytics derived from healthcare big data can

optimize resource allocation, enhance treatment effectiveness, and streamline

administrative processes, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved patient

care (Hulsen et al., 2019).

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

Despite its promise, big data in healthcare presents several challenges and ethical

considerations. Privacy and security concerns loom large, with issues surrounding

data quality, accuracy, and governance (Banan et al., 2022). The pervasive nature

of data collection raises ethical dilemmas regarding patient autonomy and

confidentiality, highlighting the need for robust privacy measures and ethical

frameworks to safeguard sensitive health information (Awrahman et al., 2022).

Moreover, the potential for overdiagnosis and unnecessary medical interventions

underscores the importance of balancing data-driven decision-making with clinical

judgment to mitigate adverse outcomes (Hulsen et al., 2019).

Proposed Solutions

In addressing the security and privacy challenges of healthcare big data, data safe

havens emerge as a promising solution. These platforms offer secure environments

for data storage, usage, and advanced analytics while prioritizing patient consent

and data ownership (Rakha et al., 2022). By emphasizing patient-centered data

governance and transparency, data safe havens facilitate responsible data sharing

and collaboration among researchers, thereby fostering innovation while

preserving privacy rights.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the utilization of healthcare big data presents a double-edged sword,

offering unparalleled opportunities for improving healthcare outcomes while

raising significant ethical and practical challenges. To harness the full potential of

big data in biomedical research, stakeholders must adopt a balanced approach that
prioritizes patient privacy, data security, and ethical integrity. By integrating robust

privacy measures, ethical frameworks, and collaborative platforms, the healthcare

community can navigate the complexities of big data while ensuring the

responsible and equitable use of health information.

REFERENCES

Awrahman, B. J., Fatah, C. A., & Hamaamin, M. Y. (2022). A review of the role

and challenges of big data in healthcare informatics and analytics. Computational

Intelligence and Neuroscience, 2022, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5317760

Hulsen, T., Jamuar, S. S., Moody, A. R., Karnes, J. H., Varga, O., Hedensted, S.,

Spreafico, R., Hafler, D. A., & McKinney, E. (2019). From big data to precision

medicine. Frontiers in Medicine, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2019.00034

Raja, R., Mukherjee, I., & Sarkar, B. K. (2020). A Systematic review of healthcare

big data. Scientific Programming, 2020, 1–15.

https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5471849

Rakha, M. S., Lapczyk, L., Dafnas, C., & Martin, P. (2022). Addressing the

security challenges of big data analytics in healthcare research. Int’l J. of

Communications, Network and System Sciences, 15(08), 111–125.

https://doi.org/10.4236/ijcns.2022.158009
Skaf, Y., & Laubenbacher, R. (2022). Topological data analysis in biomedicine: A

review. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 130, 104082.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2022.104082

ACCESSOR COMMENT

The introduction properly addresses the impact of healthcare data digitization,

setting the stage for an insightful exploration. The overview section provides a

historical context for the term "big data," seamlessly connecting it to the

exponential growth in healthcare data over the past decade. The discussion on the

benefits of big data, including evidence-based medicine and predictive analytics,

enhances the understanding of its transformative potential in healthcare delivery.

The literature review also looked into challenges and ethical considerations, such

as privacy concerns and data quality issues, contributing to a well-rounded

examination of the subject. In conclusion, the dual nature of utilizing healthcare

big data is succinctly summarized, emphasizing unprecedented opportunities for

improvement alongside significant ethical and practical challenges. While the

overall structure is commendable, providing a more in-depth exploration of

challenges could strengthen the literature review's impact.