An innovative gamification tool to enhance intercultural competence and self-efficacy among healthcare professionals caring for vulnerable migrants and refugees.

Background: The growing number of vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMRs) in the European Union presents challenges to healthcare systems, emphasizing the need for enhanced intercultural competence training for healthcare professionals. Educational escape rooms, using gamification-based principles, may offer an innovative solution to improve these competencies.

Objective: This pilot study evaluates the acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of an educational escape room aimed at improving intercultural competence, self-efficacy, and knowledge among healthcare students and professionals caring for VMRs.

Imported schistosomiasis in travelers: Experience from a referral tropical medicine unit in Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Acute schistosomiasis occurs most often in travelers to endemic regions. The aim of the study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and parasitological characteristics of patients with schistosomiasis acquired during an international travel.

Methods: Observational retrospective study including all travel-related schistosomiasis cases seen at the International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes (Barcelona, Spain) from 2009 to 2022.

Seroprevalence status of vaccine-preventable diseases in migrants living in shelter centers in Barcelona, Spain.

Introduction: Almost 281 million people were living in a foreign country in 2022, and more than 100 million were displaced because of war conflicts and human right violations. Vaccination coverage of infectious diseases in migrants from some disadvantaged settings could be lower than reception countries populations, consequently seroprevalence studies and better access to vaccination could contribute to reducing these differences.

Methods: A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted including migrants, living ≤5 years in the reception country and ≥16 years old, who requested a medical exam between January 1st, 2020 and January 31st, 2021.

[Syndromic approach in migrant patients: Fever, diarrhea, anemia, eosinophilia and chronic cough].

Migrant patients share the same diseases as natives, but biological or environmental differences may lead to distinct prevalence and manifestations of certain syndromes. Some common conditions in Primary Care stand out, such as fever, diarrhea, anemia, eosinophilia, and chronic cough, where it is important to have a special consideration. Fever may indicate a serious imported illness, and malaria should always be ruled out.

Efficacy of three benznidazole dosing strategies for adults living with chronic Chagas disease (MULTIBENZ): an international, randomised, double-blind, phase 2b trial.

Background: Treatment with benznidazole for chronic Chagas disease is associated with low cure rates and substantial toxicity. We aimed to compare the parasitological efficacy and safety of 3 different benznidazole regimens in adult patients with chronic Chagas disease.

Methods: The MULTIBENZ trial was an international, randomised, double-blind, phase 2b trial performed in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Spain.

Imported Strongyloides stercoralis infection and diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases: Is there any association?

Objectives: Strongyloidiasis is a nematode infection caused by Strongyloides stercoralis. Previous studies have addressed the possibility of the parasite to establish a complex relationship with the host that could affect the risk of developing diabetes mellitus or modify its presentation. This study aims to evaluate the potential impact of strongyloidiasis in diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases.

Opportunistic Community Screening of Chronic Chagas Disease Using a Rapid Diagnosis Test in Pharmacies in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain): Study Protocol and Pilot Phase Results.

This study aimed to report the protocol and results from the pilot phase of an opportunistic CP-based CD screening program in Barcelona, Spain. Three strategies according to recruitment approach were designed: passive, active and active-community. The study process consisted of signing the informed consent form, recording the patient's data in a web-based database system, and performing the rapid test and blood collection on dry paper.

Health and Vaccination Status of Unaccompanied Minors After Arrival in a European Border Country: A Cross-sectional Study (2017-2020).

Background: Unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) are a high-risk group for infectious diseases and information on their vaccination status is scarce. Different approaches are used to screen newly arrived minors in Europe. The aim of this study was to describe the health status and serological protection against different vaccine-preventable diseases among UASC to inform public health decision-making.

Health promotion strategies toward improved healthcare access for migrants and refugees in Europe: MyHealth recommendations.

MyHealth European project (2017-2020) was committed to elaborate on models to engage vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMR) in their health through community involvement. Low healthcare access and poor quality of healthcare services for VMR is a common reality in many European countries. The purpose of the present study, as part of MyHealth project, was the development of an agenda for actions and consequent recommendations to tackle the issue.

Epidemiological and clinical profile of adult patients with diarrhoea after international travel attended in an International Health referral center.

Background: The aim of the study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics of patients with diarrhoea after their return from a trip to tropical and subtropical areas.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients with travel-related diarrhoea attended International Health referral center. Travel diarrhoea was defined as the presence of three or more liquid stools per day, or liquid stools more often than is normal for the individual, during travel or within two weeks after returning.

Changes in the microbiological diagnosis and epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in real-time PCR era: A six-year experience in a referral center in Barcelona.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by different species of the protozoa Leishmania spp. Cutaneous lesions are the most common clinical manifestation. This disease is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas, including the Mediterranean basin.

Analytical Evaluation of Dried Blood Spot and Rapid Diagnostic Test as a New Strategy for Serological Community Screening for Chronic Chagas Disease.

Background: Chagas disease is a public health problem not only in Latin America, but also in other regions, including Spain, due to migration movements. Conventional serological diagnosis requires an invasive sample (plasma or serum) and a well-equipped laboratory. To circumvent those limitations, blood samples dried on filter paper (DBS) or Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) could be a practical alternative to reference protocol for serological screening in epidemiological studies.

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Professionals to Assess Health Needs of Newly Arrived Migrants in Spain.

Heightened conflicts and lack of safety due to reasons related to economic, social, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, political, or nationality matters have increased migratory movements during the last, few decades. Unfortunately, when migrants arrive in new territories, they can face many barriers. For example, in Spain, some migrants have difficulties in accessing health services.