Community based participatory co-design of health passports for refugees and newcomers in Kingston, Ontario

A mixed-methods study to explore the design, delivery and implementation of a patient held health passport (2025-2027)

The purpose of this study is to co-design the health passport prototype for non-English speaking refugees for use in emergency medicine and primary care. The study used surveys (to elicit advantages and disadvantages of a health passport, including format, content and considerations for implementation), followed by focus groups (to explore themes in greater detail) to co-design a prototype of a health passport. 

Surveys were distributed locally to healthcare providers, settlement workers, and refugees using online survey platform Qualtrics in Kingston, Ontario. Local partner agencies supported the completion of surveys for refugees who do not speak English. Focus Groups were held online for healthcare providers and settlement workers. To achieve meaningful participation in focus groups, the research team used participatory methods by engaging community researchers fluent in the target languages of this study (Arabic, Somali, Dari/Farsi, Swahili) in the design, delivery and analysis of focus groups. Community Researchers were trained to provide translation of research documents, facilitate focus groups, note take during focus groups, and analyze focus group data. 

The co-design phase of this study produced guidance on the design, delivery and implementation of a patient held health passport for non-English speaking refugees. This study also illustrated a novel way to increase refugee/newcomer participation as research team members in community-based participatory research. This method allowed for valuable participation in the research process and increased comfort for research participants. 

The next phase of this study is to pilot implementation of the health passport in primary and emergency care and collect feedback from newcomers and healthcare providers on its utility and feasibility. 

A draft of the health passport prototype can be found here.