A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and Implementation
BackgroundMost individuals seeking asylum in Germany live in collective housing and are thus exposed to a higher risk of contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to test the feasibility and efficacy of a culture-sensitive approach c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2023-06-01
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| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e44551 |
| _version_ | 1797734019209625600 |
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| author | Ulrich Frick Dilan Sipar Leonie Bücheler Fabian Haug Julian Haug Khalifa Mohammed Almeqbaali Rüdiger Pryss Rita Rosner Hannah Comtesse |
| author_facet | Ulrich Frick Dilan Sipar Leonie Bücheler Fabian Haug Julian Haug Khalifa Mohammed Almeqbaali Rüdiger Pryss Rita Rosner Hannah Comtesse |
| author_sort | Ulrich Frick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundMost individuals seeking asylum in Germany live in collective housing and are thus exposed to a higher risk of contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to test the feasibility and efficacy of a culture-sensitive approach combining mobile app–based interventions and a face-to-face group intervention to improve knowledge about COVID-19 and promote vaccination readiness among collectively accommodated Arabic-speaking adolescents and young adults.
MethodsWe developed a mobile app that consisted of short video clips to explain the biological basis of COVID-19, demonstrate behavior to prevent transmission, and combat misconceptions and myths about vaccination. The explanations were provided in a YouTube-like interview setting by a native Arabic-speaking physician. Elements of gamification (quizzes and rewards for solving the test items) were also used. Consecutive videos and quizzes were presented over an intervention period of 6 weeks, and the group intervention was scheduled as an add-on for half of the participants in week 6. The manual of the group intervention was designed to provide actual behavioral planning based on the health action process approach. Sociodemographic information, mental health status, knowledge about COVID-19, and available vaccines were assessed using questionnaire-based interviews at baseline and after 6 weeks. Interpreters assisted with the interviews in all cases.
ResultsEnrollment in the study proved to be very challenging. In addition, owing to tightened contact restrictions, face-to-face group interventions could not be conducted as planned. A total of 88 participants from 8 collective housing institutions were included in the study. A total of 65 participants completed the full-intake interview. Most participants (50/65, 77%) had already been vaccinated at study enrollment. They also claimed to comply with preventive measures to a very high extent (eg, “always wearing masks” was indicated by 43/65, 66% of participants), but practicing behavior that was not considered as effective against COVID-19 transmission was also frequently reported as a preventive measure (eg, mouth rinsing). By contrast, factual knowledge of COVID-19 was limited. Preoccupation with the information materials presented in the app steeply declined after study enrollment (eg, 12/61, 20% of participants watched the videos scheduled for week 3). Of the 61 participants, only 18 (30%) participants could be reached for the follow-up interviews. Their COVID-19 knowledge did not increase after the intervention period (P=.56).
ConclusionsThe results indicated that vaccine uptake was high and seemed to depend on organizational determinants for the target group. The current mobile app–based intervention demonstrated low feasibility, which might have been related to various obstacles faced during the delivery. Therefore, in the case of future pandemics, transmission prevention in a specific target group should rely more on structural aspects rather than sophisticated psychological interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:38:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b0f72e93e0d4733b189f7b80c4c9364 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:38:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b0f72e93e0d4733b189f7b80c4c93642023-08-29T00:00:47ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2023-06-017e4455110.2196/44551A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and ImplementationUlrich Frickhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9606-0467Dilan Siparhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2222-8685Leonie Büchelerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8611-4775Fabian Haughttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5697-3686Julian Haughttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6323-3184Khalifa Mohammed Almeqbaalihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8615-1728Rüdiger Prysshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1522-785XRita Rosnerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7960-8398Hannah Comtessehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4150-6107 BackgroundMost individuals seeking asylum in Germany live in collective housing and are thus exposed to a higher risk of contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to test the feasibility and efficacy of a culture-sensitive approach combining mobile app–based interventions and a face-to-face group intervention to improve knowledge about COVID-19 and promote vaccination readiness among collectively accommodated Arabic-speaking adolescents and young adults. MethodsWe developed a mobile app that consisted of short video clips to explain the biological basis of COVID-19, demonstrate behavior to prevent transmission, and combat misconceptions and myths about vaccination. The explanations were provided in a YouTube-like interview setting by a native Arabic-speaking physician. Elements of gamification (quizzes and rewards for solving the test items) were also used. Consecutive videos and quizzes were presented over an intervention period of 6 weeks, and the group intervention was scheduled as an add-on for half of the participants in week 6. The manual of the group intervention was designed to provide actual behavioral planning based on the health action process approach. Sociodemographic information, mental health status, knowledge about COVID-19, and available vaccines were assessed using questionnaire-based interviews at baseline and after 6 weeks. Interpreters assisted with the interviews in all cases. ResultsEnrollment in the study proved to be very challenging. In addition, owing to tightened contact restrictions, face-to-face group interventions could not be conducted as planned. A total of 88 participants from 8 collective housing institutions were included in the study. A total of 65 participants completed the full-intake interview. Most participants (50/65, 77%) had already been vaccinated at study enrollment. They also claimed to comply with preventive measures to a very high extent (eg, “always wearing masks” was indicated by 43/65, 66% of participants), but practicing behavior that was not considered as effective against COVID-19 transmission was also frequently reported as a preventive measure (eg, mouth rinsing). By contrast, factual knowledge of COVID-19 was limited. Preoccupation with the information materials presented in the app steeply declined after study enrollment (eg, 12/61, 20% of participants watched the videos scheduled for week 3). Of the 61 participants, only 18 (30%) participants could be reached for the follow-up interviews. Their COVID-19 knowledge did not increase after the intervention period (P=.56). ConclusionsThe results indicated that vaccine uptake was high and seemed to depend on organizational determinants for the target group. The current mobile app–based intervention demonstrated low feasibility, which might have been related to various obstacles faced during the delivery. Therefore, in the case of future pandemics, transmission prevention in a specific target group should rely more on structural aspects rather than sophisticated psychological interventions.https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e44551 |
| spellingShingle | Ulrich Frick Dilan Sipar Leonie Bücheler Fabian Haug Julian Haug Khalifa Mohammed Almeqbaali Rüdiger Pryss Rita Rosner Hannah Comtesse A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and Implementation JMIR Formative Research |
| title | A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and Implementation |
| title_full | A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and Implementation |
| title_fullStr | A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and Implementation |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and Implementation |
| title_short | A Mobile-Based Preventive Intervention for Young, Arabic-Speaking Asylum Seekers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Design and Implementation |
| title_sort | mobile based preventive intervention for young arabic speaking asylum seekers during the covid 19 pandemic in germany design and implementation |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e44551 |
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