Abstract
Background/Aim: We have a limited understanding of the broader determinants of health of international migrants and how these change over time since migration to the United Kingdom (UK). To address this knowledge gap, we aim to conduct a prospective cohort study with data acquisition via a smartphone application (app). In this pilot study, we aim to 1) determine the feasibility of the use of an app for data collection in international migrants, 2) optimise app engagement by quantifying the impact of specific design features on the completion rates of survey questionnaires and on study retention, 3) gather preliminary profile health status data, to begin to examine how risk factors for health are distributed among migrants. Methods: We will recruit 275 participants through a social media campaign and through third sector organisations that work with or support migrants in the UK. Following consent and registration, data will be collected via surveys. To optimise app engagement and study retention, we will quantify the impact of specific design features (i.e. the frequency of survey requests, the time of day for app notifications, the frequency of notifications, and the wording of notifications) via micro-randomised process evaluations. The primary outcome for this study is survey completion rates with numerator as the number of surveys completed and denominator as the total number of available surveys. Secondary outcomes are study retention rates and ratings of interest after app usage. Ethics and dissemination: We have obtained approval to use consented patient identifiable data from the University College London Ethics Committee. Improving engagement with the app and gathering preliminary health profile data will help us identify accessibility and usability issues and other barriers to app and study engagement prior to moving to a larger study.
Highlights
During their journey and after arrival in their host country, migrants experience large, rapid changes in the wider determinants influencing their health, including different legal, social, economic and health structures and systems; health service access and support; exposures and behaviours; and epidemiological changes associated with population mobility (Figure 1)[1]
In the UK there is a limited understanding of how these factors are distributed among migrants and how they change over time since migration
Cognisant of implementation challenges faced by digital health technologies[9,10,11], we describe the design of a pilot study during which various ways to optimise acceptability, engagement and retention will be tested
Summary
Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article. Surveys completed and denominator as the total number of available surveys. Secondary outcomes are study retention rates and ratings of interest after app usage. Ethics and dissemination: We have obtained approval to use consented patient identifiable data from the University College London Ethics Committee. Improving engagement with the app and gathering preliminary health profile data will help us identify accessibility and usability issues and other barriers to app and study engagement prior to moving to a larger study. Keywords App, health, healthcare access, mhealth, migrant, migration, occupational health, refugee, smartphone application, wellbeing
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