Digital Health for Migrants, Ethnic and Cultural Minorities and the Role of Participatory Development: A Scoping Review

Irina Radu (), Mandy Scheermesser, Martina Rebekka Spiess, Christina Schulze, Daniela Händler-Schuster and Jessica Pehlke-Milde
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Irina Radu: Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Mandy Scheermesser: Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Martina Rebekka Spiess: Institute of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Christina Schulze: Institute of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Daniela Händler-Schuster: Institute of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Jessica Pehlke-Milde: Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 20, 1-31

Abstract: Digital health interventions (DHIs) are increasingly used to address the health of migrants and ethnic minorities, some of whom have reduced access to health services and worse health outcomes than majority populations. This study aims to give an overview of digital health interventions developed for ethnic or cultural minority and migrant populations, the health problems they address, their effectiveness at the individual level and the degree of participation of target populations during development. We used the methodological approach of the scoping review outlined by Tricco. We found a total of 2248 studies, of which 57 were included, mostly using mobile health technologies, followed by websites, informational videos, text messages and telehealth. Most interventions focused on illness self-management, mental health and wellbeing, followed by pregnancy and overall lifestyle habits. About half did not involve the target population in development and only a minority involved them consistently. The studies we found indicate that the increased involvement of the target population in the development of digital health tools leads to a greater acceptance of their use.

Keywords: migration; minority; digital health; participatory research; health technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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