Mixed Methods

“I feel like my job is to give patients hope” – perspectives of Community Health Workers and employers in Iowa: a mixed methods study

This study looked at Community Health Workers (CHWs) and their employers in Iowa to understand their roles, training needs, and challenges. Interviews and surveys showed that CHWs do a wide variety of tasks and often receive training on the job, but many still feel they need more training. Employers said that funding is a major barrier to running CHW programs. While CHWs feel … [Read more...] about “I feel like my job is to give patients hope” – perspectives of Community Health Workers and employers in Iowa: a mixed methods study

This study looks at how unpaid community health workers (mostly women) in Ethiopia continued to work without pay, even as the government claimed it was moving away from volunteer-based health programs. The research compares two groups—one in cities focused on HIV care, and one in rural areas focused on general health. It shows that both groups were still expected to work for … [Read more...] about Moving away from volunteerism in community health? Motivations and wellbeing among urban and rural Ethiopian volunteers

This study tested short HIV training lessons sent through WhatsApp to nurses and community health workers in South Africa. Most participants read the lessons quickly, and the training improved their knowledge and how they cared for patients. Patient care improved by 21% after the training. The approach was simple, well-received, and shows promise as an easy and low-cost way to … [Read more...] about Effectiveness and uptake of WhatsApp-based HIV microlearning for healthcare workers in remote South African clinics: a pragmatic, mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial

This study looked at a preschool hearing screening program in a low- and middle-income country, led by community health workers. Over 21 months, more than 13,000 children were screened, and 6% were referred for more testing. Nearly half of those referred were found to have hearing loss. Caregivers strongly supported the program, especially when screenings happened in … [Read more...] about Impact of Preschool Hearing Screening in Low-Income Communities: Program Outcomes and Caregiver Perspectives

This pilot study looked at a health program in Memphis, Tennessee, that brought health coaching directly into underserved neighborhoods. The program reached people through events, walk-ins, door-to-door visits, and phone calls. Many participants had health issues like high blood pressure, obesity, or high blood sugar, and some didn’t have a regular doctor. Health coaches … [Read more...] about An Innovative Place-Based, Neighborhood-Level Approach to Address Health Disparities in Medically Underserved Areas of Memphis, TN