Community Health Workers Versus Nurses as Counselors or Case Managers in a Self-Help Diabetes Management Program

Authors: Kim B. Kim, PhD, Miyong T. Kim, RN, PhD, Hochang B. Lee, MD, Tam Nguyen, RN, PhD, Lee R. Bone, MPH, BSN, David Levine, MD

In order to confirm the effectiveness of community health workers’ involvement as counselors or case managers in a self-help diabetes management program among Korean Americans in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, a randomized controlled trial was utilized. Different groups were counselled by either a CHW or an RN, with the CHW’s performance being comparable to the RN for psychobehavioral and physiological outcomes. In conclusion, community health workers performed as well as or better than nurses as counselors or case managers in a self-help diabetes management program in a Korean American community.