Browsing by Subject "Community Health Workers"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Community Health Workers: An Examination of State Policies and Analysis of a Healthcare-Based Intervention for Diabetes Management
    (2023-06) Hansotte, Elinor Alice; Stone, Cynthia; Dixon, Brian E.; Silverman, Ross; Staten, Lisa
    Community Health Workers (CHW) are trusted frontline members of the public health workforce with a unique understanding of the communities they serve. CHW interventions have been shown effective and economical in improving certain health outcomes, including diabetes-related complications and self-management. The ability of CHWs to relate to patients in a culturally appropriate manner positions them to better address social determinants of health and inequities than many allied health professionals. State-level CHW legislation varies by jurisdiction and can direct CHW processes including definitions, funding, and scope of practice. The Diabetes Project – Indianapolis Neighborhoods (DIP-IN) intervention employs clinic-based CHWs to work with high-risk patients with diabetes in three Indianapolis communities with disproportionately high diabetes prevalence rates. DIP-IN CHWs are based in select Eskenazi Health Federally Qualified Health Centers and deliver services to patients primarily through home visits or phone calls. This dissertation examines CHW policies and the impact of the DIP-IN CHW intervention on patient outcomes in relation to a comparison group. This dissertation includes three studies 1) a state-level policy surveillance exploring legislation that includes best practices for CHW policy, 2) a study using a difference-in-difference approach through the application of generalized linear mixed models to estimate the effect of DIP-IN on A1C and hospital outcomes, and 3) a study using multivariat regression and negative binomial modeling to estimate the impact of DIP-IN on COVID-19 hospitalization and length of stay. As financing influences duration and application of CHW interventions, this dissertation aims to explore the landscape over time of CHW legislation and evaluate a privately funded CHW program model intended to improve health outcome among high-risk patients with diabetes. It also aims to strengthen the knowledge base for CHW involvement in improving clinical-community linkages to support diabetes management.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Depressive Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Participants in the Pasos Adelante Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Program, Arizona, 2005-2008
    (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012) Cutshaw, Christina A.; Staten, Lisa K.; Reinschmidt, Kerstin M.; Davidson, Christopher; Roe, Denise J.
    Introduction Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in the United States and have been associated with depressive symptoms and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study examined whether depressive symptoms and HRQOL indicators changed among participants in Pasos Adelante, a chronic disease prevention and control program implemented in a US–Mexico border community. Methods Pasos Adelante was a 12-week promotora-led program that included educational sessions and walking groups. We used the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Center for Disease Control’s “Healthy Days” measures to measure depressive symptoms and HRQOL. We used linear mixed-effects models and general estimating equations to analyze changes in CES-D scores and HRQOL indicators from baseline to postprogram and from postprogram to 3-month follow-up. Results At baseline, participants had a mean of 7.1 physically unhealthy days, 7.4 mentally unhealthy days, and 3.9 days of activity limitation. The mean number of physically and mentally unhealthy days declined significantly from baseline to postprogram, but the mean number of activity limitation days did not. At baseline, 42.6% of participants reported their health as fair/poor; 20.8% of participants reported frequent mental distress, and 31.8% had a CES-D score of 16 or more. All 3 proportions declined from baseline to postprogram. No significant changes occurred between postprogram and follow-up. Conclusion Participants in Pasos Adelante showed improvement in depressive symptoms and several HRQOL indicators. Future studies should use an experimental design with a comparison group to determine whether these findings can be replicated and to examine potential mediators and moderators of program effects.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effectiveness of the Pasos Adelante Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Program in a US-Mexico Border Community, 2005-2008
    (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012) Staten, Lisa K.; Cutshaw, Christina A.; Davidson, Christopher; Reinschmidt, Kerstin; Stewart, Rosie; Roe, Denise J.
    Introduction Pasos Adelante is a lifestyle intervention program facilitated by community health workers (promotores) targeting chronic disease prevention and control in Mexican Americans. Initial studies of Pasos Adelante indicated significant improvements in self-reported nutrition and physical activity. This study examined whether Pasos Adelante participants living in a US border community showed improvements in selected physiological measures after participating in the program and whether changes were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Methods The program took place in 12-week sessions from January 2005 to May 2008 and included walking groups and education targeting nutrition and physical activity. Questionnaires, anthropometric measures, and laboratory tests were conducted at baseline (n = 305), conclusion of program (n = 254), and 3-month follow-up (n = 221). Results Participants demonstrated decreases in body mass index (P = .04), waist and hip circumference (P < .001), diastolic and systolic blood pressure (P < .001), and total cholesterol (P = .008) from baseline to program conclusion. No values worsened significantly between program conclusion and follow-up, except systolic blood pressure. Glucose levels improved between conclusion and follow-up (P = .01). Conclusion These results support the initial findings of improvements in participants’ self-reported physical activity and nutrition patterns through changes in objective measures. This evidence-based program demonstrates the potential for a promotores-facilitated chronic disease prevention and control program to improve physical health and targets both primary and secondary prevention in Hispanic communities and organizations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Management of children with danger signs in integrated community case management care in rural southwestern Uganda (2014-2018)
    (Oxford University Press, 2024) Matte, Michael; Ntaro, Moses; Kenney, Jessica; Patel, Palka; Wesuta, Andrew Christopher; Kawungezi, Peter Chris; Bwambale, Shem; Ayebare, David; Baguma, Stephen; Bagenda, Fred; Miller, James S.; Stone, Geren; Mulogo, Edgar Mugema; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: In integrated community case management (iCCM) care, community health workers (CHWs) provide home-based management of fever, diarrhea and fast breathing for children aged <5 y. The iCCM protocol recommends that children with danger signs for severe illness are referred by CHWs to health facilities within their catchment area. This study examines the management of danger signs by CHWs implementing iCCM in a rural context. Methods: A retrospective observational study that examined clinical records for all patients with danger signs evaluated by CHWs from March 2014 to December 2018 was conducted. Results: In total, 229 children aged <5 y had been recorded as having a danger sign during 2014-2018. Of these children, 56% were males with a mean age of 25 (SD 16.9) mo, among whom 78% were referred by the CHWs as per the iCCM protocol. The age category of 12 to 35 mo had the highest numbers of prereferred and referred cases (54% and 46%, respectively). Conclusions: CHWs play a key role in early symptomatic detection, prereferral treatment and early referral of children aged <5 y. Danger signs among children aged <5 y, if left untreated, can result in death. A high proportion of the children with danger signs were referred as per the iCCM protocol. Continuous CHW training is emphasized to reduce the number of referral cases that are missed. More studies need to focus on children aged 12-35 mo and why they are the most referred category. Policymakers should occasionally revise iCCM guidelines to detail the types of danger signs and how CHWs can address these.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Tailored motivational interviewing (TMI): Translating basic science in skills acquisition into a behavioral intervention to improve community health worker motivational interviewing competence for youth living with HIV
    (APA, 2021-12) Naar, Sylvie; Pennar, Amy L.; Wang, Bo; Brogan-Hartlieb, Kathryn; Fortenberry, J. Dennis; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Objective: Interventions to promote evidence-based practices are particularly needed for paraprofessional staff working with minority youth with HIV who have higher rates of HIV infection but lower rates of linkage and retention in care compared to older adults. Utilizing the ORBIT model for behavioral intervention development, we defined and refined a behavioral intervention for providers, Tailored Motivational Interviewing (TMI), to improve provider competence in previous studies (Phase 1a and 1b). The current study focuses on ORBIT Phase 2a-proof of concept. We hypothesized that TMI would be acceptable and feasible and would show a signal of efficacy of improving and maintaining community health worker (CHW) MI competence scores using an innovative statistical method for small N proof-of-concept studies. Method: Longitudinal data were collected from 19 CHWs at 16 youth HIV agencies. CHWs from 8 sites were assigned to the TMI group per the cofunders request. The remaining 8 sites were randomly assigned to TMI or services as usual. MI competence was assessed at baseline and up to 15 times over 2 years. Random coefficient models were utilized to examine time trajectories of competence scores and the impact of the intervention on competence trajectories. Semistructured interviews were conducted to determine barriers and facilitators of TMI. Results: Competence scores in the TMI group significantly increased while the scores of the control group significantly decreased. Further analysis of the intervention group demonstrated that scores significantly increased during the first 3 months after initial workshop and was sustained through the end of the study. Qualitative findings revealed insufficient time and competing priorities as perceived barriers whereas integrating MI into routine agency practices and ongoing training might facilitate implementation. Conclusions: Following a successful proof-of-concept, the next step is a fully randomized pilot study of TMI relative to a control condition in preparation for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized full scale trial.