This study looked at how well community health workers (CHWs) in South Africa communicated with patients, focusing on empathic communication skills. Researchers used a tool called the Enhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic Factors (ENACT) to measure these skills before and after a quality improvement program called Nyamekela4Care. They recorded 66 consultations in Afrikaans … [Read more...] about Exploring Empathic Communication Among Community Health Workers: Applying the ENACT Tool in Two South African Sites
Community-Based Mycetoma Surveillance in Uganda: Identifying Knowledge Gaps and Training of Community Health Workers to Improve Case Detection
Mycetoma is a rare neglected tropical disease in Uganda, and this study aimed to improve community health workers' (CHWs) knowledge to help identify and refer suspected cases. Between March and August 2023, researchers trained 45 CHWs in Gulu and Pader districts for one day and assessed their knowledge before and after the training. Initially, the average knowledge score was … [Read more...] about Community-Based Mycetoma Surveillance in Uganda: Identifying Knowledge Gaps and Training of Community Health Workers to Improve Case Detection
Transition and change: opportunities and challenges of CHW programme reform for community health systems and vertical disease programmes in Liberia
Community health worker (CHW) programs are essential for addressing health worker shortages and promoting universal health coverage. In Liberia, the Ministry of Health launched a National Community Health Services Policy in 2016 to reform CHW programs and improve health workforce capacity. This study investigates how these reforms affected CHWs involved in delivering Neglected … [Read more...] about Transition and change: opportunities and challenges of CHW programme reform for community health systems and vertical disease programmes in Liberia
Adherence to referral advice and its associated factors among community drug distributors and caregiver during SMC implementation in nine states
Malaria is a major health issue, especially for children under five in low-resource countries, with Nigeria facing the highest burden in West Africa. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) programs have been launched in nine states in Nigeria to combat this. This study examined how well caregivers followed referral protocols during SMC, focusing on caregiver-child pairs … [Read more...] about Adherence to referral advice and its associated factors among community drug distributors and caregiver during SMC implementation in nine states
Patient navigator programmes for children and adolescents with chronic diseases
Despite the rise in chronic diseases among children and teens, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of patient navigator programs designed to help them manage these conditions. This review of 17 studies found that patient navigators, who guide patients and their families through healthcare systems, may not significantly improve quality of life or reduce hospital … [Read more...] about Patient navigator programmes for children and adolescents with chronic diseases