A diverse array of approaches exist to encourage community engagement to achieve communicable disease control. K. Questa and colleagues collected 13 systematic reviews of research examining community engagement-related communicable disease control to understand which approaches to engagement exist and what is known about their effectiveness. Approaches included community … [Read more...] about Community engagement interventions for communicable disease control in low- and lower- middle-income countries: evidence from a review of systematic reviews
North America (U.S. and Canada)
Telephone or Visit-Based Community Health Worker Care Management for Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Study
The best mode of CHW-supported health care for low income, Hispanic patients remains an understudied area of research. Barbara Turner and colleagues assessed health outcomes among Texan, Hispanic patients experiencing Diabetes Mellitus. They followed patients for six months following care management received from CHWs either by telephone only, during clinic visits without … [Read more...] about Telephone or Visit-Based Community Health Worker Care Management for Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Study
Community gatekeepers and the conundrum of confidentiality and coercion
This commentary responds to an article by Sunu Thomas (2020) describing concerns about the role of confidentiality when a research participant discloses sensitive personal information while a CHW is present. The author describes concerns about whether CHWs should bridge the gap between communities and researchers and whether their presence during data collection represents a … [Read more...] about Community gatekeepers and the conundrum of confidentiality and coercion
Qualitative evaluation of a community health representative program on patient experiences in Navajo Nation.
Members of the Navajo Nation receive home care, health education, and community health promotion from Community Health Representatives (CHRs). CHRs undergo specialized training under the COPE Intervention provided by Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) to learn Motivational Interviewing and other culturally appropriate strategies to connect with local community … [Read more...] about Qualitative evaluation of a community health representative program on patient experiences in Navajo Nation.
Rapid literature review: Community health workers
CHWs performed as key actors during the Ebola, Zika, and Marburg outbreaks. Shuchi Srinivasan and Radhika Arora surveyed research examining barriers and facilitators to CHW-based responses to these outbreaks. Some barriers included gaps in knowledge and skills, failure to address PPE-related needs among CHWs, and the mental health impacts of living through a pandemic. … [Read more...] about Rapid literature review: Community health workers