Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41852913›Full record

ArticleBMC digital health2026

Can mHealth improve migrant wellness during public health emergencies? A community-engaged qualitative study during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chad Abresch, Michelle Warren, Ellen Kerns, Alice Sato, Gleb Haynatzki, Jonathan Figliomeni, Fernando Sanchez, Gisela Marfileno, Lisvey Rivera, M Jana Broadhurst and 1 more

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Article in BMC digital health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Chad AbreschDepartment of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.
Michelle WarrenDepartment of Modern Languages, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney, NE USA.
Ellen KernsDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.
Alice SatoDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.
Gleb HaynatzkiDepartment of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.
Jonathan FigliomeniChild Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.
Fernando SanchezCentral District Health Department, Grand Island, NE USA.
Gisela MarfilenoChild Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Kearney, NE USA.
Lisvey RiveraNebraska Migrant Education Program, Kearney, NE USA.
M Jana BroadhurstDepartment of Pathology & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.
Russell J McCullohDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant healthcare access disparities for migrant communities, with infection rates up to three times higher than the general population. While mobile health technology offers potential solutions for reaching vulnerable populations during public health emergencies, implementation barriers persist. This study evaluates how mobile health interventions can effectively serve migrant communities through analysis of a digital health program implemented in rural Nebraska. Results: Analysis of semi-structured interviews with migrant family members between February 2022 and June 2024 revealed three key elements driving program success: culturally congruent support through community navigators, immediate access to testing and results, and program adaptability to meet broader community needs. Community navigators proved essential, expanding beyond technical support to address social needs ranging from food insecurity to domestic issues. The combination of digital tools with human support enabled families to make timely decisions about work and school attendance while accessing crucial social services. Conclusions: Digital health interventions can effectively serve migrant communities when designed with cultural sensitivity and supported by community navigators. While public health systems should prioritize technological infrastructure for emergency response, success requires concurrent investment in culturally responsive human support systems. The integration of digital tools with adaptable community navigation provides a model for reaching vulnerable populations during future public health emergencies. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s44247-026-00253-0.

Indexed as

Community navigatorsCOVID-19Digital healthMigrant populationsMobile health

Identifiers

PMID41852913
PMCPMC12992342

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.