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Volume 22
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Article

Exploring Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations Living in Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Multi-Country Feasibility Study in Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands

by
Paulien Tensen
1,2,*,†,
Maria Bach Nikolajsen
3,†,
Simeon Kintu Paul
4,
Princess Ruhama Acheampong
5,
Francisca Gaifém
6,
Frederick Murunga Wekesah
4,7,
Ulrik Bak Kirk
3,8,
Ellis Owusu-Dabo
9,
Per Kallestrup
3,6,8,
Erik Beune
1,
Charles Agyemang
1,10 and
Steven van de Vijver
2,11
1
Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2
Amsterdam Health & Technology Institute, 1105 BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3
Research Unit for General Practice, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
4
African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi P.O. Box 10787-00100, Kenya
5
Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
6
Research Unit for Global Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
7
Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
8
Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
9
Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
10
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
11
Department of General Practice, OLVG Hospital, 1091 HA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
 
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*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(9), 1363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091363 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 19 June 2025 / Revised: 31 July 2025 / Accepted: 21 August 2025 / Published: 29 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migrant Health Challenges in Infectious and Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

(1) Background: Mobile populations living in disadvantaged circumstances often face disrupted continuity of care due to incomplete or inaccessible health records. This feasibility study explored the perceived usefulness of Electronic Personal Health Records (EPHRs) in enhancing access to and continuity of care for mobile populations across Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands. (2) Methods: A qualitative study using ninety semi-structured interviews, with multi-level stakeholders ranging from policymakers to mobile individuals, recruited through purposive and convenience sampling. Interview guides and analysis were informed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and analysis by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). (3) Results: Stakeholders highlighted the value of improved medical data sharing and ownership and considered EPHRs promising for enhancing care continuity and efficiency. Key concerns included limited digital and health literacy, and data security and privacy, underscoring the need for education and safeguards against inappropriate data sharing. Due to differences in digital readiness and privacy guidelines, a one-size-fits-all EPHR is unlikely to succeed. (4) Conclusions: EPHRs are considered valuable tools to enhance care continuity and increase patient ownership, but they face technical, structural, and social challenges, including data security and varying levels of digital (health) literacy. Successful implementation requires context-sensitive, co-created solutions supported by strong policy frameworks.
Keywords: electronic personal health record; migration; mobile populations; medical data exchange; health equity; continuity of care; health access; digital health; individual interviews electronic personal health record; migration; mobile populations; medical data exchange; health equity; continuity of care; health access; digital health; individual interviews

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Tensen, P.; Nikolajsen, M.B.; Paul, S.K.; Acheampong, P.R.; Gaifém, F.; Wekesah, F.M.; Kirk, U.B.; Owusu-Dabo, E.; Kallestrup, P.; Beune, E.; et al. Exploring Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations Living in Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Multi-Country Feasibility Study in Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 1363. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091363

AMA Style

Tensen P, Nikolajsen MB, Paul SK, Acheampong PR, Gaifém F, Wekesah FM, Kirk UB, Owusu-Dabo E, Kallestrup P, Beune E, et al. Exploring Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations Living in Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Multi-Country Feasibility Study in Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(9):1363. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091363

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tensen, Paulien, Maria Bach Nikolajsen, Simeon Kintu Paul, Princess Ruhama Acheampong, Francisca Gaifém, Frederick Murunga Wekesah, Ulrik Bak Kirk, Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Per Kallestrup, Erik Beune, and et al. 2025. "Exploring Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations Living in Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Multi-Country Feasibility Study in Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 9: 1363. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091363

APA Style

Tensen, P., Nikolajsen, M. B., Paul, S. K., Acheampong, P. R., Gaifém, F., Wekesah, F. M., Kirk, U. B., Owusu-Dabo, E., Kallestrup, P., Beune, E., Agyemang, C., & van de Vijver, S. (2025). Exploring Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations Living in Disadvantaged Circumstances: A Multi-Country Feasibility Study in Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, and The Netherlands. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(9), 1363. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091363

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