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Using miniscopes and deep learning to compare neurobehavioral representations of psychostimulant and opioid self-administration.

Authors: Broomer MC, Clark CE, Iringan JSJ, Wang MW, Beacher NJ, Lin DT
Journal: Addiction neuroscience
mental health psychology open access

Abstract

Over the last decades, a growing body of literature stressed the need for more inclusive and responsive healthcare systems for migrants, including undocumented immigrants (UDM) []. Migration has been acknowledged as a social determinant of health [], likely to negatively affect physical and mental health. Moreover, UDM are particularly at risk of being exposed to hazardous and harmful circumstances (e.g. unstable housing, food insecurity, violence, lack of medical insurance), jeopardising their health and well-being []. However, despite international agreements guaranteeing access to health care as a universal right for all, regardless of legal status, UDM still face numerous barriers [–]. At policy level, across Europe, access through national healthcare systems highly varies from health care limited to vital emergencies to a health care coverage similar to that of nationals []. However, even in countries where access is granted, UDM still face access problems because of institutional and individual barriers []. Consequently, to counterbalance these barriers, non-profit organisations have taken initiatives to improve health access for UDM. This approach has been described as “structural compensation” as it aims to fill the gaps in the healthcare systems by compensating for limited access to health care for vulnerable populations [–]. This approach was developed by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to support groups in vulnerable situations, and has been used to address ethical dilemmas relating to health [, ]. Currently, these interventions often arise from citizens and/or health care professionals’ observations of the unmet needs of UDM, particularly in crisis contexts []. Structural compensation interventions can take different shapes at the infrastructure or the workforce level (e.g. provision of health care or health information, navigation through the healthcare system) [–] and can be implemented by different actors (NGO, citizens’ organisations, etc.). In this context, including a participatory approach to the interventions can enhance their overall effectiveness. Participatory approaches aim to enhance access to health care, quality of care, healthcare utilisation, and health outcomes by involving participants at various stages of the intervention process [–]. Applied to health research, these approaches contribute to the establishment of research priorities by acknowledging the norms, cultures and expectations of participants []. Thus, the research outcomes will be perceived as more useful and rooted in needs of public and professionals [, ]. It has a positive impact on treatment adherence, patients’ and health care professionals’ satisfaction [, , ], health care improvement and healthcare system organisation (e.g. a better inclusion of marginalised people in the healthcare system) [, ]. Getting people involved contributes to their health empowerment [, –]. In addition, the interventions are more concrete, effective, relevant and more likely to be implemented in the long term [–].