Ethical implications of technology adoption in healthcare practice: A systematic review

This systematic literature review rigorously examines the ethical dimensions of technology adoption within healthcare, synthesizing insights from 64 studies sourced through comprehensive searches across Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The analysis underscores notable regional disparities, with European and Asian countries contributing most of the research, while areas like Africa and South America remain significantly underrepresented. Most of the reviewed studies employ theory-driven frameworks, notably the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), providing a structured approach to understanding technology's ethical implications; however, the absence of theoretical foundations in some works highlights an area for future development. Reviewing articles across 41 journals demonstrates the field's interdisciplinary nature, with leading contributions from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and Heliyon . Methodologically, the predominance of quantitative studies highlights a strong empirical focus. Key ethical concerns, including data security, algorithmic bias, and trustworthiness, point to a pressing need for enhanced ethical guidelines. The study concludes with recommendations for addressing geographic and theoretical gaps in the literature and calls for an expanded focus on factors influencing technology adoption, the implications of automation in healthcare, and emerging ethical challenges in digital health.