Migrant Health Fellowship 

Educational Interventions for GP Teams to Improve the Health of Migrant Patients: A scoping review

PI: Dr Kateryna Kachurets

Co-Investigators: Prof Susan M Smith, Dr Patrick O’Donnell, Dr Bridget Kiely, Dr David Mockler, Dr. Saloni Pandya

Challenge

Migration has significantly reshaped primary care across Europe and globally in recent decades. GPs increasingly encounter patients facing language barriers, cultural differences, trauma exposure, and complex health and social needs.

Research Project aims and methods

This project maps international evidence on educational interventions designed to support qualified general practitioners (GPs) in delivering high-quality care to migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking patients.

Our scoping review, conducted in accordance with the JBI framework, searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science (2000–2025). Fourteen studies from nine countries met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included workshops, online and blended CPD programmes, intercultural communication training, and participatory approaches involving migrant communities and interpreters.

The findings highlight the importance of embedding migrant health competencies within continuing professional development frameworks and aligning educational initiatives with organisational and policy support to enable sustainable practice change.

Funding & Support: This research forms part of the ICGP/Trinity Migrant Health Fellowship and was supported by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Status: Manuscript under review.

Contact: kachurek@tcd.ie

PI: Prof Susan Smith

Team:  Dr Patrick O’Donnel (UL), Academic Lead

Dr Brid Shanahan (GP Summerhill, Dublin 1), Clinical Lead

Dr Bridget Kiely (RCSI), Research Lead

Funding: Department of health and Children

Objective: To achieve health equity through advocacy and research while also supporting GPs who are currently working in the most disadvantaged communities in Ireland, at the ‘Deep End’

Key component: During the project we will hold a series of Roundtable meetings focusing on challenges faced in Deep End general practice. Reports are available on the website and to date we have focussed on Children’s Health and Funding for general practice to address the Inverse Care Law

Website: www.deepend.ie 

Website: www.deepend.ie