Developing the health examination protocol for asylum seekers in Finland
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This document outlines the development of a health examination protocol for asylum seekers in Finland, which includes initial health assessments, screenings for infectious diseases, and identifying vulnerable populations. The project, supported by the European Union's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, aims to gather health data from new asylum seekers to improve protocols and practices across reception centers. Systematic data collection will involve a random sample of 1,000 individuals, leading to insights that will inform the initial health examination process.
Developing the health examination protocol for asylum seekers in Finland
- 1. 29.5.2018 1 Developing the health examination protocol for asylum seekers in Finland A national development project (TERTTU) Skogberg N, Tiittala P, Koponen P, Snellman O, Helve O, Räisänen P, Castaneda A EPH 2017/ Natalia Skogberg
- 2. Asylum seekers are entitled to acute and necessary healthcare in Finland • Voluntary initial health examination upon arrival: – Assessment of overall health and wellbeing – Screening for infectious diseases + vaccinations – Assessment of service needs – Identification of vulnerable populations (victims of torture, severe trauma, human trafficing, sexual minorities disabled, elderly) • Physican assessment for vulnerable groups (incl. pregnant women, disabled individuals, elderly and children) • Pregnant women are entitled to maternity clinic services • Children entitled to same healthcare as permanent residents 29.5.2018 EPH 2017/ Natalia Skogberg 2 Supported by The European Union, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (Amif)
- 3. EPH 2017/ Natalia Skogberg 3 Developing the health examination protocol for newly arrived asylum seekers (TERTTU) 2017-2019 To gather representative information on the health of newly-arrived asylum seekers To develop the current health examination protocol To develop unified practices accross reception centers Aims 2018 Gathering systematic health examination data 2019 Developing the health examination protocol 2017 Planning data collection, exploring possibilities of EHR data analysis 29.5.2018
- 4. National electronic health records (EHR) • EHR introduced 2014, used by all reception centres by 2016 • EHR used by reception centres not compatible with EHR used in public/private health sector • Record linkage challenging Register analysis, reception centres EHR data 1/2015-12/2016: • 65% participated in health information session, 42% in health examination; missing recordings for either of these for 19% • Systematic coding of visits missing for 60% of the recordings • EHR data analysis may be biased due to unexpected influx of asylum seekers in 2015 + EHR used uniformly in reception centres only by 2016 29.5.2018 EPH 2017/ Natalia Skogberg 4 Supported by The European Union, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (Amif)
- 5. Systematic data collection on the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers (TERTTU Study) • Random sample: target sample is 1000 adults and children from the asylum seeker reception register (Umarek) • Target group: newly arrived asylum seekers • Face-to-face interview and brief health examination, 1,5h conducted by bilingual trained research nurses (+interpreter) • Record linkage with reception centre EHR • Possibilities of record linkage with national registers for those who receive a permanent residence (approx. 30% of all who have applied) will be explored • The initial health examination for asylum seekers will be developed based on the main findings of the study 29.5.2018 EPH 2017/ Natalia Skogberg 5 Supported by The European Union, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (Amif)
- 6. Thank you 29.5.2018 EPH 2017/ Natalia Skogberg 6 Supported by The European Union, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (Amif)