Public and Patient Involvement in Migration Health Research: Eritrean and Syrian Refugees’ and Asylum Seekers’ Views in Switzerland
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Background and Context
1.2. Experiences from a Previous Research Project
1.3. Public and Patient Involvement
1.3.1. General Considerations
1.3.2. The Concept of PPI
2. Methods
2.1. Exploring Migration PPI through an Interactive In-Depth Exchange: Health Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic
2.2. Selection of Volunteers
2.3. Stages of Establishing a PPI for Migration Health Research
2.4. Realization of the PPI Establishment
2.5. Criteria for Evaluation, Including Quantitative and Qualitative Indicators
- Participation rate and adherence: At every virtual meeting, participation of more than 70% of the volunteers was regarded as good intention and will of the group for the success of the initiation.
- Active participation and contribution: Bringing new ideas, questions, comments and suggestions about their community was regarded as measure of gradual increase in the concept of the PPI and their motivation.
- Inviting new volunteer compatriots: This was considered a gauge for the increasing awareness of the importance and effect of PPI in health research.
- Proposing new discussion topics: This was an indication that volunteers and the way they reach out to their communities to explore healthcare-related disparities or problems in their communities were enhanced.
3. Results
3.1. Reaching Out to Participants
- Introduction and explanation of PPI among migrants
- Willingness to attend a PPI migration health research programme
- Engagement and contribution of participants
- Input and propositions of PPI members
3.2. Introduction and Explanation of PPI among Migrants
3.3. Willingness to Attend a PPI Migration Health Research Programme
3.4. Engagement and Contribution of Participants
3.5. Input and Propositions of PPI Members
4. Discussion
4.1. Role and Effect of PPI in Raising Awareness of Research Importance
4.2. PPI on Improving Access to the Healthcare System and Its Utilization
4.3. Limitations of the Migration PPI Group Approach
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. Public and Patient Involvement (PPI): Definition and Background
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Characteristics | Eritrea (N) | Syria (N) | Total N (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gender | Male | 5 | 2 | 7 (50) |
Female | 4 | 3 | 7 (50) | |
Median age (years) | 32 | 27 | 30.5 | |
Educational attainment | Postgraduate | 2 | 0 | 2 (14) |
College/graduate | 3 | 4 | 7 (50) | |
High school | 4 | 1 | 5 (36) | |
Marital status | Married | 9 | 1 | 10 (71) |
Single | 0 | 2 | 2 (14) | |
Divorced | 0 | 2 | 2 (14) | |
Employment status | Employed | 4 | 2 | 6 (43) |
Unemployed | 5 | 3 | 8 (57) | |
Average duration in Switzerland (years) | 7 | 5 | 6 |
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Chernet, A.; Paris, D.H.; Alchalabi, L.; Utzinger, J.; Reus, E. Public and Patient Involvement in Migration Health Research: Eritrean and Syrian Refugees’ and Asylum Seekers’ Views in Switzerland. Healthcare 2024, 12, 1654. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161654
Chernet A, Paris DH, Alchalabi L, Utzinger J, Reus E. Public and Patient Involvement in Migration Health Research: Eritrean and Syrian Refugees’ and Asylum Seekers’ Views in Switzerland. Healthcare. 2024; 12(16):1654. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161654
Chicago/Turabian StyleChernet, Afona, Daniel H. Paris, Lujain Alchalabi, Jürg Utzinger, and Elisabeth Reus. 2024. "Public and Patient Involvement in Migration Health Research: Eritrean and Syrian Refugees’ and Asylum Seekers’ Views in Switzerland" Healthcare 12, no. 16: 1654. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161654