Internet of things in Healthcare: a conventional literature review

PurposeThe power of the Internet has impacted various industries, especially the healthcare industry. With the rapid population growth and advancement of various sensor technologies and smart devices, the demand for quality healthcare services has increased in the past few years. At the same time, Internet of Things (IoT) technology makes intelligent objects communicate with each other by connecting all the objects without human intervention. IoT facilitated services and technologies in healthcare to provide low-cost and efficient service delivery to patients and consumers. It reduces the patient's hospital stay time and efficient information exchange by providing cost-effective healthcare services. This systematic review analyzes different technologies, core applications, datasets, algorithms, challenges, and limitations of IoT in the healthcare sector.MethodsDatabase search is performed to review IoT healthcare-enabling technologies, algorithms, applications, and IoT-centric architectures. Search has been conducted over popular databases like Springer, Elsevier, and IEEE Xplore. We have downloaded around 544 research papers, out of which we have selected only 116 based on our interests.ResultsWe identified different challenges in healthcare IoT applications as security and privacy, scalability, high cost, energy efficiency, quality of service, network architecture, mobility, and interoperability. However, data security and privacy issues are significant challenges in the healthcare sector as they deal with patients' confidential information. Also, we proposed a novel architecture that covers most IoT healthcare requirements. IoT healthcare applications are also detailed. In addition, it reviews most of the healthcare datasets and the utilized algorithms.ConclusionsBased on the reviewed articles in this paper, it is has been concluded that IoT devices are beneficial in the healthcare applications, regardless of their limitations in terms of energy, processing, and storage. It is a promising technology that can save time and effort to the practitioners and doctors. Several architectures and technologies are discussed as well as the limitations, which enables researchers to tackle those limitations. However, the future of IoT healthcare holds immense potential for high-security enabled and pervasive applications. Analyzing vast healthcare data using deep learning techniques can play a vital role in extracting valuable insights. To leverage the power of deep learning, it is crucial to design a well-structured cloud architecture capable of implementing these techniques and predicting future trends. While researchers have proposed various frameworks for IoT healthcare, there remains a need to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of these proposed frameworks. Furthermore, it is essential to address the specific requirements and intricacies when designing detailed architectural patterns for healthcare applications. Overall, the future of IoT healthcare is expansive and offers exciting research opportunities for scholars and experts in the field. By embracing innovative technologies and addressing the specific needs of the healthcare industry, we can unlock the full potential of IoT in revolutionizing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes.