Refugee smartphone access to health care in Canada: Concept analysis

Abstract

Objective: With the ever-changing smartphone healthcare technology also comes nurses’ responsibilities to recognize its ethical implications particularly among vulnerable population. The aim of this paper is to explore what we know about the use of smartphone to access health care among refugees and new immigrants.

Methods: We were guided by Walker and Avant (2011) concept analysis methodology. Concept analysis is a rigorous method to better understand ethical implications, meaning, attributes, antecedents and consequences of smartphone access to health care. Diverse databases were included such as CINAHL, Journals@Ovid, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source, ProQuest Psychology Journals, PsychINFO, ERIC, and Education Full Text.

Results: The concept analysis retrieved 23 studies. Overarching themes included the physical (e.g. income, geographical location) and social (generation; access to regular internet; digital literacy; relationship with practitioners) that were attributed to refugee and new immigrant access to health care.

Conclusions: Some of the ethical implication when using smartphone to access health care technology with refugees and new immigrants are discussed and the skills needed for nursing practice are identified and recommendations for nurse education and research are made.