Background: People who have migrated or with a language barrier may face significant hurdles in accessing health care. Some apps have been specifically developed to facilitate the dialogue between health care professionals and people who have migrated who have low-level language proficiency or to promote health among people who have migrated. Objective: We conducted a systematic review to investigate development, acceptability, and effectiveness of these types of apps. Methods: We conducted a search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. We included all study designs (qualitative, quantitative, mixed) reporting development, evaluation of efficacy, or acceptability of apps facilitating dialogue with a health professional or promoting health for people who have migrated, minorities, or tourists with a language barrier, using any outcome. Two researchers selected the studies independently. We collected general information about the app, information about health literacy and cultural adaptation, information about the development of the app, evidence on acceptability or efficacy, and information on app use. Data were collected by 2 researchers independently and results were reviewed to verify agreement and reported according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis). Results: Positive results for translation apps included better communication, but with possible limitations, and reduced consultation time. Positive results for health promotion apps included improved quality of life and better management of chronic illnesses. Conclusions: Overall, the apps had good levels of acceptability, though only half had their efficacy evaluated. In those evaluations, the endpoints were mostly related to reported behavior change and knowledge improvement, which is common for evaluations of health promotion programs. In the future, as more health apps are created, it is essential that apps that claim to have a public health objective undergo a rigorous evaluation of their acceptability, efficacy, and actual use. Indicators of outcomes beyond changes in behavior and knowledge should be reported; change in health status or access to care should also be reported. This systematic review has helped us note the characteristics associated with improved acceptability and efficacy, which can be helpful for the development of future apps.

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中文翻译：

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弥合移民医疗保健语言差距的电子工具：系统评价

背景：已迁移或有语言障碍的人在获得医疗保健方面可能面临重大障碍。专门开发了一些应用程序，以促进医疗保健专业人员与具有低水平语言能力的移民之间的对话或促进移民之间的健康。目标：我们进行了系统审查，以调查这些类型的应用程序的开发、可接受性和有效性。方法：我们对 PubMed、Scopus 和 Embase 数据库进行了搜索。我们纳入了所有研究设计（定性、定量、混合）报告开发、功效评估或应用程序的可接受性，这些应用程序促进与健康专业人士的对话或促进移民、少数民族或有语言障碍的游客的健康，使用任何结果. 两名研究人员独立选择了这些研究。我们收集了有关应用程序的一般信息、有关健康素养和文化适应的信息、有关应用程序开发的信息、可接受性或有效性的证据以及有关应用程序使用的信息。数据由 2 名研究人员独立收集，并根据 PRISMA（系统评价和 Meta 分析的首选报告项目）审查结果以验证一致性并报告。结果：翻译应用程序的积极结果包括更好的沟通，但可能存在局限性，并减少了咨询时间。健康促进应用程序的积极成果包括提高生活质量和更好地管理慢性病。结论：总体而言，这些应用程序具有良好的可接受性，但只有一半的应用程序对其功效进行了评估。在这些评估中，终点主要与报告的行为改变和知识改进有关，这在健康促进计划的评估中很常见。未来，随着越来越多的健康类 App 被开发出来，声称具有公共卫生目标的 App 必须对其可接受性、有效性和实际使用情况进行严格评估。应报告行为和知识变化之外的结果指标；还应报告健康状况或获得护理的机会的变化。这一系统评价帮助我们注意到与提高可接受性和有效性相关的特征，这有助于未来应用程序的开发。未来，随着越来越多的健康类 App 被开发出来，声称具有公共卫生目标的 App 必须对其可接受性、有效性和实际使用情况进行严格评估。应报告行为和知识变化之外的结果指标；还应报告健康状况或获得护理的机会的变化。这一系统评价帮助我们注意到与提高可接受性和有效性相关的特征，这有助于未来应用程序的开发。未来，随着越来越多的健康类 App 被开发出来，声称具有公共卫生目标的 App 必须对其可接受性、有效性和实际使用情况进行严格评估。应报告行为和知识变化之外的结果指标；还应报告健康状况或获得护理的机会的变化。这篇系统评价帮助我们注意到与提高可接受性和有效性相关的特征，这有助于未来应用程序的开发。还应报告健康状况或获得护理的机会的变化。这一系统评价帮助我们注意到与提高可接受性和有效性相关的特征，这有助于未来应用程序的开发。还应报告健康状况或获得护理的机会的变化。这一系统评价帮助我们注意到与提高可接受性和有效性相关的特征，这有助于未来应用程序的开发。

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