Evaluation of the LIGHT Curriculum: An African American Church-Based Curriculum for Training Lay Health Workers to Support Advance Care Planning, End-of-Life Decision Making, and Care

Authors: Jerry Johnson, Tara Hayden, Lynne Allen Taylor

In this study, researchers evaluated the LIGHT, or Listening, Identifying, Guiding, Helping, Translating, Curriculum. The LIGHT Curriculum was developed to support those with life-limiting illnesses in African American church communities. Thirty-seven lay health workers from three African American churches took part in the study. Researchers measured knowledge, attitudes and beliefs; self-efficacy; and quality of classroom training and activities. At the post-test stage, LHWs reported feeling more prepared to function within their roles and engage with clients and families in conversations about end-of-life. Overall, the results of this study suggest that, with the proper training, CHWs can play an important role in palliative care at the community level.