Name: Ms. Paulien Tensen
Affiliations: 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

Name: Ms. Francisca Gaifém
Affiliations: Research Unit for Global Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

“Electronic Personal Health Records for Mobile Populations: A Rapid Systematic Literature Review”
by Paulien Tensen, Francisca Gaifém, Simeon Kintu Paul, Frederick Murunga Wekesah, Princess Ruhama Acheampong, Maria Bach Nikolajsen, Ulrik Bak Kirk, Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Per Kallestrup, Charles Agyemang and Steven van de Vijver
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040488

The following is a short interview with Ms. Paulien Tensen and Ms. Francisca Gaifém:

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?

Francisca Gaifém: I am currently a research assistant at the Global Health Research Unit at Aarhus University in Denmark. My academic background is in pharmaceutical sciences and global health. Over the years, I have been involved in a number of research projects addressing migration and health, including topics such as sexual and reproductive health, mental health, healthcare equity and, most recently, digital health. My research interests are rooted in understanding and addressing barriers to healthcare for populations living in vulnerable circumstances.

Paulien Tensen: I am a PhD student working on the use of electronic personal health records to improve the continuity of care for mobile populations. I am also actively involved in developing and piloting an EPHR initiative called HealthEmove (www.healthemove.org) at the Amsterdam Health & Technology Institute (Ahti), which is currently being piloted in Amsterdam. In addition to my academic work, I have experience working directly with undocumented migrants in the Netherlands, particularly through my involvement with Doctors of the World, where I supported undocumented migrants in accessing healthcare services and my current volunteer work at the LOA foundation where we do blood pressure monitoring in churches. These practical experiences have deeply informed my research.

2. What are some of the key challenges and innovations in this area of research?

Paulien Tensen: One of the main challenges we identified is the overall lack of research in this field. During our systematic review, we searched three databases and found that only a limited number of studies directly addressed the use of EPHRs for mobile populations. There is very little existing literature on crucial aspects such as user experiences, the creation and management of medical records for mobile groups, and the technical requirements for cross-border data sharing.

Francisca Gaifém: Yes, we also found a lack of studies specifically investigating the impact of EPHRs on health outcomes for mobile populations. I would add that this is closely tied to the broader issue of a lack of prioritization. Despite the clear needs, this topic has not received sufficient attention in policy or health system planning. This may be due in part to the complexity of the issue, including legal, ethical, and infrastructural barriers. Nevertheless, it is essential that this area receives greater recognition in both research and policymaking.

3. What motivated you to pursue this topic?

Francisca Gaifém: My motivation stems from witnessing the significant barriers to healthcare that migrants face—both in terms of access and quality. Through both academic research and personal engagement with civil society organizations, I have encountered many examples of the difficulties experienced by mobile populations. These experiences have reinforced my motivation to contribute to research that aims to address these gaps.

Paulien Tensen: My motivation is similar. Through my volunteer work with Doctors of the World, I have seen first-hand how patients often lack access to their previous medical histories. In some cases, individuals carry only paper records—or no records at all. This makes it extremely difficult for healthcare providers to deliver effective care. These challenges inspired me to focus on digital solutions like EPHRs that can potentially improve continuity of care for this vulnerable population.

4. What research trends are you observing in this field, and what advice would you offer to early career researchers or PhD students?

Paulien Tensen: One important trend is the growing use of digital health technologies. However, we are also seeing that digital health often exacerbates existing health inequalities rather than mitigating them. In a previous publication on “Digital health for all: How digital health could reduce inequality and increase universal health coverage”, we argue to develop digital health to reduce—rather than increase—existing inequalities in health. For early career researchers, I would recommend focusing on how these tools, such as EPHRs, can be adapted to truly support marginalized populations. More specifically, I believe there is a great need for research on how EPHRs influence healthcare outcomes and how they are experienced by users, especially among mobile and undocumented groups.

Francisca Gaifém: I would strongly encourage researchers to engage in international and cross-country collaborations. Since the challenge of maintaining health records for mobile populations is inherently transnational, such collaborations are invaluable for understanding legal and technical barriers and for co-developing culturally appropriate and context-sensitive solutions. Working in diverse, interdisciplinary teams can significantly strengthen both the research process and its outcomes.

5. How did you hear about IJERPH, and what was your experience like with the publication process?

Francisca Gaifém: We were introduced to the journal through colleagues at Aarhus University, some of whom have served as Guest Editors for Special Issues in IJERPH. It was through this network that we learned about the opportunity to submit our work. The submission and review process was smooth and efficient, and we appreciated clear communication throughout.

Paulien Tensen: I completely agree. We were pleased with the speed and clarity of the process. It was a very positive publishing experience overall.