Migrants are vulnerable to serious health disparities, with many of them experiencing worse health outcomes. The access to social and health services is a primary indicator of the level of integration (www.migranthealth.eu) These health risks demand effective strategies to empower migrants to recognize, minimize, and respond effectively to potential health problems in the host country (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18387773) Digital Health Literacy (DHL) is the ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem (Digital Health Literacy. WHO). Digitally health literate citizens are empowered to play a more active role in their health self management, resulting in improved prevention, adherence to a healthier lifestyle and better health outcomes (H2020 IC-Health). DHL involves the development of proper Digital Health Skills: Operational skills; Navigation skills; Information searching; Evaluating reliability; Determining relevance; Adding content; Protecting privacy (Van der Vaart & Drossaert.2017) MIG-DHL is launched with the main objective of increasing the competences (attitudes, knowledge, skills) of Migrants for improving their DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY The project will have the next specific objectives: • To aware Migrants about the importance of Digital Health Literacy • To develop Digital Health Skills within the Migrants population and empower them to play a more active role in their health self-management, strengthening the aspects related with the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and other similar situations. • To train Health Professionals to be able to support the Migrants population • To involve and train Migrants Peers to be able to support Newcomer Migrants Through the execution of this Project the next results will be obtained; • Co-Created Methodological Guide (I.O.1) will be developed, involving the direct participation of End Users, with the main objective of determining the key contents, methodologies and tools needed for creating and improving the critical competences of the Migrants population (including Newcomer Migrants and Migrants Peers) and Health Professionals on increasing Digital Health Literacy. • Training Materials (I.O.2) addressed to the Migrants (including Newcomer Migrants and Migrants Peers) and Health Professionals on increasing Digital Health Literacy. • Design of Practical Training Activities (I.O.3); They will be the core of the Training Program and they will enhance the practical training of the Migrants (including Newcomer Migrants and Migrants Peers) and Health Professionals on increasing Digital Health Literacy, including the optimal exploitation of aforementioned Training Materials through activities oriented to the specific needs of trainees. • Development of a responsive e-Training Platform and Mobile Application (I.O.4), for supporting the implementation of the Training Methodology, including Training Materials, Workspace and link to applicable ICT Tools. MIG-DHL will benefit a number of persons during the project lifetime: • 100 persons will be trained, including Newcomer Migrants, Migrants Peersand Health Professionals (25 in Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece) through their participation in the validation actions of Training Materials, Designed Practical Training Activities and e-Training Platform. • 2.000 persons including Newcomer Migrants and Health Professionals (500 in Germany, Spain, Italy and Greece) will be aware through multiplier events and dissemination actions After the project lifetime, and through the MIG-DHL Units, we estimate to create a multiplier effect achieving the next impact: • 200 persons will be trained, including Newcomer Migrants, Migrants Peersand Health Professionals (50 in Germany, Spain, Italy and Greece) yearly during the 5 years after the completion of the project • 2.000 persons including Newcomer Migrants and Health Professionals (500 in Germany, Spain, Italy and Greece) will be aware yearly during the 5 years after the completionthrough dissemination actions
The main goal of the project is to improve the digital health literacy of migrants, especially refugees, who have come to Europe in the last five years. Improved digital health literacy should make it easier for migrants to find their way around the health systems of the respective countries of entry and thus enable them to take more responsibility for their own health. To achieve this, digital skills are taught and information is provided in a simple form about the country-specific health systems. On a secondary level, the project aims to contribute to integration.
The project was applied in order to contribute to the improvement of health care for migrants. Newly arrived migrants are exposed to many health risks, sometimes with serious health consequences. These health risks require effective strategies to empower migrants to identify, minimise and respond effectively to potential health problems in the host country. As digital health literacy encompasses the skills to search, find, understand and evaluate health information from electronic sources, and to apply the knowledge gained to address a health issue, promoting it may be one way to improve health care for newly arrived migrants.