Exploring Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations Living in Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Multi-Country Feasibility Study in Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands

Paulien Tensen (), Maria Bach Nikolajsen, Simeon Kintu Paul, Princess Ruhama Acheampong, Francisca Gaifém, Frederick Murunga Wekesah, Ulrik Bak Kirk, Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Per Kallestrup, Erik Beune, 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
Maria Bach Nikolajsen: Research Unit for General Practice, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Simeon Kintu Paul: 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
Francisca Gaifém: Research Unit for Global Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Frederick Murunga Wekesah: African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi P.O. Box 10787-00100, Kenya
Ulrik Bak Kirk: 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: Research Unit for General Practice, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Erik Beune: Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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 9, 1-26

Abstract: (1) Background: Mobile populations living in disadvantaged circumstances often face disrupted continuity of care due to incomplete or inaccessible health records. This feasibility study explored the perceived usefulness of Electronic Personal Health Records (EPHRs) in enhancing access to and continuity of care for mobile populations across Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands. (2) Methods: A qualitative study using ninety semi-structured interviews, with multi-level stakeholders ranging from policymakers to mobile individuals, recruited through purposive and convenience sampling. Interview guides and analysis were informed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and analysis by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). (3) Results: Stakeholders highlighted the value of improved medical data sharing and ownership and considered EPHRs promising for enhancing care continuity and efficiency. Key concerns included limited digital and health literacy, and data security and privacy, underscoring the need for education and safeguards against inappropriate data sharing. Due to differences in digital readiness and privacy guidelines, a one-size-fits-all EPHR is unlikely to succeed. (4) Conclusions: EPHRs are considered valuable tools to enhance care continuity and increase patient ownership, but they face technical, structural, and social challenges, including data security and varying levels of digital (health) literacy. Successful implementation requires context-sensitive, co-created solutions supported by strong policy frameworks.

Keywords: electronic personal health record; migration; mobile populations; medical data exchange; health equity; continuity of care; health access; digital health; individual interviews (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1363/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1363/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:9:p:1363-:d:1737865

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().