Heidi Salaets

Background Medical consultation is an interactive communicative process in which the doctor and the patient take turns to formulate and allow for the construction of the interaction. Communication challenges between patients and healthcare professionals during consultations can lead to miscommunication or complete breakdowns in interaction. Language barriers are a primary contributor to these difficulties. With increasing migration, the number of non-native language-speaking patients seeking medical care has risen substantially. Aim To explore the experiences of medical and allied healthcare professionals in Belgium when encountering language barriers during patient communication in clinical settings. Method A quantitative, multilingual, cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Belgium to examine the experiences of healthcare professionals during patient interactions involving language barriers. Results A total of 179 healthcare professionals completed the survey. All respondents reported encountering patients with whom communication was hindered by language barriers. Patients’ body language and lack of responsiveness were key indicators of these barriers. The professional role of respondents significantly influenced the type of alternative communication technique employed (p = 0.00171). Speech-to-text translation was the preferred strategy, reported by 54% (n = 97) of participants, followed by ad hoc interpretation by accompanying people or other staff members. Conclusion Language barriers impact all categories of healthcare providers, regardless of their professional role—whether during treatment, registration, discharge, or medication collection. Implementing strategies such as targeted communication training, greater use of professional interpreters, and culturally adapted health education tools may help mitigate these challenges and enhance patient–provider communication.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are a leading cause of death worldwide, yet first responder apps can significantly improve outcomes by mobilizing citizens to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation before professional help arrives. Despite their importance, limited research has examined the psychological and behavioral factors that influence individuals’ willingness to adopt these apps. Objective: Given that first responder app use involves elements of both technology adoption and preventive health behavior, it is essential to examine this behavior from multiple theoretical perspectives. Building on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and health belief model (HBM), this study therefore developed an integrative framework to explain which behavioral determinants and demographic and health-related factors drive an individual’s willingness to install a first responder app for OHCA. Methods: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey (N=3660; mean age 49.95, SD 16.75 years; n=1909, 52.2% women) in June 2024 among Belgian adults. Behavioral determinants (UTAUT and HBM constructs), demographic (eg, age), and health-related (eg, cardiopulmonary resuscitation training experience) variables were measured using (multi-item) scales. Willingness to install the app served as the outcome variable. We developed a structural equation model using the Lavaan package in R and specified regression paths, on the one hand, between the behavioral determinants and willingness to install the app, and on the other hand, between the demographic and health-related factors and the behavioral determinants. Additionally, we conducted multiple group analyses to examine the moderating role of demographic and health-related factors on the relationships between the behavioral determinants and the willingness to install the app. Results: Our results revealed that 2 UTAUT variables (ie, facilitating conditions: β=.07; P=.003 and social influence: β=.16; P<.001) and 3 HBM variables (ie, perceived susceptibility: β=.06; P=.003, perceived barriers: β=–.29; P<.001, and perceived benefits: β=.38; P<.001) were associated with willingness to install a first responder app for OHCA. Additionally, most demographic and health-related factors were indirectly related to willingness via behavioral determinants, with age being the sole moderator. Specifically, a negative association between perceived severity and willingness was only observed among older adults. In addition, the positive relationship between perceived benefits and willingness was stronger for older adults compared to younger ones. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study have both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, this study finds its relevance in extending the UTAUT and HBM to altruistic mobile health apps and advancing our understanding of technology adoption in health contexts. Practically, the study’s findings could inform real-life health campaigns aimed at enhancing citizen participation in first responder systems.

Objective To identify the factors that prevent or hinder access to mental healthcare services for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Design An umbrella review was conducted on scoping reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and meta-syntheses published between January 2013 and December 2023. Data sources The databases searched (on 11 December 2023) included PubMed (via NCBI, including MEDLINE), Embase (via Embase.com), Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (via Cochrane Library). Search strings were categorised as concepts, wherein concept one was population (refugees, asylum seekers and migrants), concept two was mental health services and concept three was the type of review (systematic review, meta-analysis, scoping review or literature review). Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Reviews were included if study participants were refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Additionally, mental health-providing services or organisations and mental health providers were included. Excluded study participants were people with a migration background and second- or third-generation migrants. Data extraction and synthesis Two independent reviewers screened the identified articles on title and The 48 full-text articles were assessed in detail against inclusion and exclusion criteria by the two researchers and one person from the Belgian Superior Health Council. Results 18 reviews were included. The extensive literature review identified various factors that prevent and restrict access to mental healthcare services for individuals with a recent migration background. Among the eight concepts of barriers, the most frequently mentioned were stigma and stigmatisation, language and communication challenges, financial obstacles, cultural barriers (including religious beliefs and faith) and issues with service delivery. Additionally, differences in culture, education and gender were recognised as factors limiting access to mental health services. Recommendations for policy and practice included implementing a multidisciplinary and multi-agency approach to facilitate access for newly arriving migrants and refugees, increasing financial allocations for translation and interpretation services, enabling policies to promote mental health utilisation and introducing educational programmes at the grassroot level among migrants and refugees. Conclusion Policy implementation should address the identified barriers and be routinely assessed for efficacy in service delivery and uptake. Future research should focus on enabling the utilisation of mental healthcare services among migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.

The citizen science project 'From Bystander to Hero' embraces the diversity of society. Everyone can play a role in improving the chances of survival after cardiac arrest, in a way that suits his or her abilities and talents.

BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) are a leading cause of death worldwide, yet first responder apps can significantly improve outcomes by mobilizing citizens to perform CPR before professional help arrives. Despite their importance, understanding of these apps' societal integration remains limited. OBJECTIVE Given that first responder app use involves elements of both technology adoption and preventive health behavior, it is essential to examine this behavior from multiple theoretical perspectives. Building on the UTAUT and Health Belief Model (HBM), this study therefore developed an integrative framework to explain which behavioral determinants and individual factors drive individual’s willingness to install a first responder app for OHCA. METHODS We conducted an online cross-sectional survey (N=3660, Mage=49.95, SDage=16.75, 52.2% female) in June 2024 among [country blinded] adults. To test our hypotheses and address our research questions, we developed a Structural Equation Model (SEM) using the Lavaan package in R. RESULTS Our results revealed that two UTAUT variables (i.e. facilitating conditions and social influence) and three HBM variables (i.e. perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers and perceived benefits) were associated with willingness to install a first responder app for OHCA. Additionally, most demographic and health factors indirectly related to willingness via behavioral determinants, with age being the sole moderator. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results of this study have both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, this study finds its relevance in extending the UTAUT and HBM to altruistic mobile health apps and advancing our understanding of technology adoption in health contexts. Practically, the study’s findings could inform real-life health campaigns aimed at enhancing citizen participation in first responder systems.

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In 2025, KU Leuven celebrates its 600th anniversary. In this context, the university had launched a call for a citizen science project, aiming to actively involve citizens in scientific research over a period of three years. This demonstraton presents the selected project.