Andrew Kerkhoff and colleagues developed a “Test-to-Care” model to improve the ability of vulnerable populations to isolate and quarantine following a COVID-19 diagnosis. This model includes CHW-led education about COVID-19 and available community resources, ways to receive home deliveries to facilitate safe isolation, and long-term social support. The researchers evaluated the … [Read more...] about Evaluation of a novel community-based COVID-19 ‘Test-to-Care’ model for low-income populations
North America (U.S. and Canada)
Planetary health and the role of community health workers
CHWs can play a significant role in mitigating the impacts of biodiversity loss, climate change, and global noncommunicable diseases on health by providing culturally-relevant education and behavioral interventions. Manas Behera and colleagues performed a review of the literature to understand how CHWs impact these factors on a global scale. The researchers identified four … [Read more...] about Planetary health and the role of community health workers
Using Community Health Workers and a Smartphone Application to Improve Diabetes Control in Rural Guatemala
CHWs in low- and middle-income countries frequently use mobile health (mHealth) technology to support diabetes management. Sean Duffy and colleagues evaluated whether or not mHealth applications could be used to provide CHWs with clinical decision support for primary diabetes management in Guatemala. Results indicated that CHWs effectively helped patients manage diabetes during … [Read more...] about Using Community Health Workers and a Smartphone Application to Improve Diabetes Control in Rural Guatemala
Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Impacts of health system physician shortages in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be mitigated by assigning tasks that require limited specialized knowledge to non-physician healthcare workers, including CHWs. Joseph Maria and colleagues reviewed 46 research studies to understand how this so-called “task-sharing” is applied to manage type 2 diabetes in LMICs. … [Read more...] about Task-sharing interventions for improving control of diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Innovative COVID-19 Programs to Rapidly Serve New Mexico: Project ECHO
The University of New Mexico created Project ECHO to enable telementoring between health experts and health care providers in isolated and underserved areas. Joanna Katzman evaluated the effectiveness of 10 Project ECHO programs designed to provide COVID-19-related mentoring in New Mexico, among which included a seven week program to connect CHWs with subject matter experts. … [Read more...] about Innovative COVID-19 Programs to Rapidly Serve New Mexico: Project ECHO