Knowledge, skills, and training of community health workers to contribute to interprofessional education: a scoping review

Authors: Annemarie Joubert, Marianne Reid

This scoping review sought to map existing literature to determine what is known about the knowledge, skills, and training of CHWs that could contribute to interprofessional education. After screening, a total of thirty-two publications were included in the analysis. Results from these publications suggested that CHWs need knowledge related to case management, communication, health education, record-keeping, and referrals to contribute to interprofessional education. CHW skills, such as critical thinking and interprofessional collaboration, alongside training approaches, such as the use of technology, were also noted as potential contributors to interprofessional education. Considering these findings, authors recommend that people responsible for implementing IPE build on the existing knowledge, skills, and training of CHWs, and that CHW training be designed and operationalized in a manner that suits local needs and contexts.