Can digital storytelling improve health outcomes for immigrant and refugee populations? A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Digital storytelling (DST) combines narrative art with digital technology, and in doing so provides a medium for individuals, especially those within immigrant and refugee communities, to share their health experiences. While DST has been explored as a tool for improving health communication and literacy, its effectiveness remains uncertain due to methodological limitations in existing studies.

Objectives: This review examined the use of DST in promoting health outcomes among immigrant and refugee communities, identified common challenges and best practices, and highlighted gaps in research and practice concerning DST's use in these populations.

Methods: The review used Arksey and O'Malley's methodology to systematically explore the literature on DST's effects on health outcomes in immigrant and refugee groups. It searched the MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsychoInfo, and CINAHL databases for peer-reviewed research articles published in English up to February 15, 2025. The extracted data were categorized into four themes: DST and Health Outcomes, Challenges and Limitations, Best Practices and Effective Strategies, and Research and Practice Gaps.

Results: DST has been applied in diverse healthcare contexts, including HPV vaccination promotion, chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes), and mental health interventions. Some studies reported improvements in health knowledge, self-care behaviors, and psychological well-being. However, the strength of evidence is limited, as most studies employed qualitative or quasi-experimental methods, relied on self-reported outcomes, and had small sample sizes. Challenges to DST implementation included technological barriers, digital literacy issues, feasibility concerns, and the need for culturally tailored interventions.

Conclusions: DST shows promise as a culturally adaptable tool for health communication, but its effectiveness as a standardized health intervention remains unproven. Healthcare practitioners may consider DST as a complementary strategy for education and behavioral support in specific areas, such as vaccination campaigns and chronic disease management. However, further high-quality, controlled studies are necessary to evaluate its long-term impact, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness before widespread implementation. Future research should prioritize rigorous methodologies, objective outcome measures, and longitudinal assessments to establish DST's role in public health interventions.

Keywords: Cultural sensitivity; Digital storytelling; Health disparities; Immigrant health; Refugee health.

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