An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic review

Abstract Background Telemedicine is mentioned as a technological solution in various fields of medicine and nowadays using telemedicine in the field of mental health in the refugee population, has attracted special attention in the world. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the...

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Main Authors: Arezoo Abasi, Seyed Ali Fatemi Aghda, Mehdi Zahedian, Zahra Jamshiddoust Miyanroudi, Sajjad Bahariniya, Benyamin yazdani, Saeed Fallah-Aliabadi, Shadi Hazhir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Globalization and Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01119-2
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author Arezoo Abasi
Seyed Ali Fatemi Aghda
Mehdi Zahedian
Zahra Jamshiddoust Miyanroudi
Sajjad Bahariniya
Benyamin yazdani
Saeed Fallah-Aliabadi
Shadi Hazhir
author_facet Arezoo Abasi
Seyed Ali Fatemi Aghda
Mehdi Zahedian
Zahra Jamshiddoust Miyanroudi
Sajjad Bahariniya
Benyamin yazdani
Saeed Fallah-Aliabadi
Shadi Hazhir
author_sort Arezoo Abasi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Telemedicine is mentioned as a technological solution in various fields of medicine and nowadays using telemedicine in the field of mental health in the refugee population, has attracted special attention in the world. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the usage of telemedicine in the refugee populations mental health. Methods This study, conducted in 2024, involved a comprehensive search of databases including Web of Science, Cochrane, ProQuest, Ovid, EBSCO, PubMed, and Scopus, up until April 2023. Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 relevant articles were identified. The quality and methodology of the selected articles were evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) checklist. Results A total of 12 articles were included in the review. Feasibility and investigation of telemedicine challenges (5 articles) and its evaluation and effectiveness investigation (7 articles) were used. Most of the studies were quantitative (8 cases) and mostly dealt with socio-economic-cultural application issues (5 cases) and screening (2 cases). Most of the studies were purely focused on refugees (5 cases). Conclusions Results have shown that paying attention to the challenges, disadvantages, and telemedicine required Infrastructure in the field of mental health, will lead to effectiveness, screening, and treatment. This causes positive social, economic, and cultural effects on refugees. However, the need for future studies with more attention to technical and governmental challenges and their issues (security and reimbursement), the refugee population with various ethnicities, and different health fields (prevention, treatment, follow-up, rehabilitation, etc.) seems to be necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-dbaefdb296d94ebd8de38bbbb47fa02d2025-08-20T02:38:32ZengBMCGlobalization and Health1744-86032025-05-0121112110.1186/s12992-025-01119-2An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic reviewArezoo Abasi0Seyed Ali Fatemi Aghda1Mehdi Zahedian2Zahra Jamshiddoust Miyanroudi3Sajjad Bahariniya4Benyamin yazdani5Saeed Fallah-Aliabadi6Shadi Hazhir7Student Research and Technology Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences Branch, Iran University of Medical SciencesFakher Mechatronic Research Center, Kerman University of Medical SciencesStudent Research and Technology Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences Branch, Iran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Science, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Healthcare Services Management, School of Health Management & Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical SciencesHealth Information Technology, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Telemedicine is mentioned as a technological solution in various fields of medicine and nowadays using telemedicine in the field of mental health in the refugee population, has attracted special attention in the world. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the usage of telemedicine in the refugee populations mental health. Methods This study, conducted in 2024, involved a comprehensive search of databases including Web of Science, Cochrane, ProQuest, Ovid, EBSCO, PubMed, and Scopus, up until April 2023. Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 relevant articles were identified. The quality and methodology of the selected articles were evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) checklist. Results A total of 12 articles were included in the review. Feasibility and investigation of telemedicine challenges (5 articles) and its evaluation and effectiveness investigation (7 articles) were used. Most of the studies were quantitative (8 cases) and mostly dealt with socio-economic-cultural application issues (5 cases) and screening (2 cases). Most of the studies were purely focused on refugees (5 cases). Conclusions Results have shown that paying attention to the challenges, disadvantages, and telemedicine required Infrastructure in the field of mental health, will lead to effectiveness, screening, and treatment. This causes positive social, economic, and cultural effects on refugees. However, the need for future studies with more attention to technical and governmental challenges and their issues (security and reimbursement), the refugee population with various ethnicities, and different health fields (prevention, treatment, follow-up, rehabilitation, etc.) seems to be necessary.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01119-2MHealthTelecareTelepsychologyAsylum SeekerDisplaced Persons
spellingShingle Arezoo Abasi
Seyed Ali Fatemi Aghda
Mehdi Zahedian
Zahra Jamshiddoust Miyanroudi
Sajjad Bahariniya
Benyamin yazdani
Saeed Fallah-Aliabadi
Shadi Hazhir
An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic review
Globalization and Health
MHealth
Telecare
Telepsychology
Asylum Seeker
Displaced Persons
title An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic review
title_full An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic review
title_fullStr An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic review
title_short An investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health: a systematic review
title_sort investigation into telemedicine utilization for refugee mental health a systematic review
topic MHealth
Telecare
Telepsychology
Asylum Seeker
Displaced Persons
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01119-2
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