Why do personal and demographic data matter in healthcare digitalization initiatives?

Stanimirović, Dalibor (author), Tepej Jočić, Lucija (author), Stanimirović, Tatjana (author)

This study explores the role and usability of personal and demographic data (PDD) in Slovenian healthcare digitalization initiatives, assessing its impact on clinical aspects, operative procedures, public health policymaking, and cross-border health threats. Using a multiple-case study approach, data were collected from expert focus groups and supported by intelligence reports from the Central Register of Patient Data. Data were coded using a content analysis approach and utilized to enhance the understanding of the research subject and refine our inferences. PDD, including identifiers, residence details, education level, employment status, social history, lifestyle behaviors, cultural determinants, and other related information, isvital for effective healthcare delivery, public health surveillance, administrative and financial compliance of the healthcare system's operations, and cross-border actions. The study highlights the pivotal role of PDD in the Slovenian eHealth system through real-world cases and applications. The key findings suggest that leveraging the potential of PDD requires systemic improvements, particularly in national strategy and regulation, data collection and quality, data utilization and integration, and privacy and ethical considerations. Advancing these areas through a coordinated and comprehensive approach can maximize the value of PDD and serve as a model for other countries aiming to strengthen their digital health systems.

• Language: English
• Keywords: digital health, healthcare system, multiple-case study, personal and demographic data, Slovenia, usability
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FU - Faculty of Administration
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 859-880
• Numbering: Vol. 10, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178117
• UDC: 35:614:004.6(497.4)
• ISSN on article: 2576-8484
• DOI: 10.55214/2576-8484.v10i1.11767
• COBISS.SI-ID: 265159939
• Publication date in RUL: 19.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Edelweiss applied science and technology
• Shortened title: Edelweiss appl. sci. technol.
• Publisher: Edelweiss Publications, Inc., Learning Gate
• ISSN: 2576-8484
• COBISS.SI-ID: 228918275

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: digitalno zdravje, zdravstveni sistem, študija več primerov, osebni in demografski podatki, Slovenija, uporabnost

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Name: EU4Health