Virtual Care and Compassion for Migrants and Refugees: A Scoping Review

Compassion is a key characteristic of quality healthcare, widely studied in in-person settings among diverse populations. However, how compassion in virtual care is conceptualized and experienced by migrants and refugees, as well as by the healthcare providers delivering care to these populations, remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to (1) synthesize peer-reviewed literature examining how compassionate virtual care is conceptualized and experienced by migrants and refugees, as well as by healthcare providers delivering virtual care to these populations, and (2) identify the facilitators and barriers influencing access to, uptake of, and the delivery of compassionate virtual care. A systematic search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus from 2010 to 2024 identified studies focused on migrant and refugee populations or their healthcare providers, digital health modalities, and compassionate care or related traits. Following title and abstract screening, two reviewers conducted full-text review and extracted data, which were synthesized using a narrative and thematic approach. Of 2,630 records, 38 studies met inclusion criteria. Compassionate virtual care was described through traits such as trust, comfort, safety, and emotional support. It was conceptualized as both an outcome of addressing equity-related barriers in healthcare and a process of receiving quality care. Migrants and refugees perceived virtual care as compassionate when providers accommodated their individualized needs, offered culturally safe practices, and created linguistically accessible environments. Structural and sociotechnical barriers, such as limited technology access and digital literacy, prohibited compassionate care. This review underscores the need for culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible virtual care models that are responsive to the intersecting identities of end users and highlights the need for research into structural and institutional factors that can support compassionate care in digitally enabled health systems. These findings can inform equitable and inclusive healthcare delivery for migrants and refugees.