Results of a social support programme to provide treatment and improve health related quality of life in refugees and homeless people

Background

Currently, European and especially Italian healthcare systems are being challenged with providing medical care to an increasing number of refugees but also to the homeless living on the streets, in reception facilities or cohabitation. In 2022, over 200,000 irregular arrivals of migrants to Europe were recorded, coming from mainly African and also Asian countries and frequently via Mediterranean migration routes.

Objectives

This study aims to report the results of a social support programme to provide treatment and improve health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in refugees and homeless people.

Methods

Observational study during the year 2022, including patients with an immigration background visiting the Clinica dell'Istituto di S. Maria e S. Gallicano di Roma, Italy (IRCCS), or being homeless during this observational study.

Results

We have seen 210 patients. In 177 cases (84.3%), a definitive diagnosis is known. Most frequent skin conditions were infectious, allergic or due to secondary inflammation. We also saw rare cutaneous conditions like Madelung disease or Darier disease.

Conclusions

We provided dermatological consultation and treatment to this very vulnerable population, and our experience shows that this social support programme to enable access to dermatological consultation for the poor was able to improve not only the clinical condition but also the HrQoL 4 weeks after consultation and beginning of treatment.