Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations: A Rapid Systematic Literature Review

Paulien Tensen, Francisca Gaifém (), Simeon Kintu Paul, Frederick Murunga Wekesah, Princess Ruhama Acheampong, Maria Bach Nikolajsen, Ulrik Bak Kirk, Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Per Kallestrup, Charles Agyemang and Steven van de Vijver
Additional contact information
Paulien Tensen: Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Francisca Gaifém: Research Unit for Global Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Simeon Kintu Paul: African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi P.O. Box 10787-00100, Kenya
Frederick Murunga Wekesah: African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi P.O. Box 10787-00100, Kenya
Princess Ruhama Acheampong: Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Maria Bach Nikolajsen: Social Inequality, Research Unit for General Practice, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Ulrik Bak Kirk: Digital Health, Research Unit for General Practice, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Ellis Owusu-Dabo: Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Per Kallestrup: Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Charles Agyemang: Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Steven van de Vijver: Amsterdam Health & Technology Institute, 1105 BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-29

Abstract: Background: Mobile populations, including refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented migrants, face challenges related to access, continuity, and quality of healthcare, among others, due to the lack of available health records. This study aimed to examine the current landscape of Electronic Personal Health Records (EPHRs) developed for and used by mobile populations. Methods: A rapid systematic review was conducted between September 2024 and January 2025, identifying relevant publications through searches in Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and grey literature. Results: The literature search yielded 2303 articles, with 74 remaining after title and abstract screening. After full-text screening, 10 scientific articles and 9 grey literature records were included in a qualitative data synthesis. Six distinct EPHRs were identified, differing in how they centralize health records, in additional functionalities, and the level of patient autonomy granted. Discussion and Conclusions: Limited evidence exists on EPHRs impact on health outcomes or continuity of care, and user adoption remains a critical challenge. Key elements in the development and implementation of EPHRs include ensuring a high level of data security and co-designing easy-to-use EPHRs. The review indicates a need for future research on user experiences of EPHRs and their impact on the health outcomes of mobile populations.

Keywords: electronic personal health record; migration; mobile populations; medical data exchange; digital health; health equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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