Qualitative evaluation of a community health representative program on patient experiences in Navajo Nation.

Authors: Lalla, Amber; Salt, Shine; Schrier, Elizabeth; Brown, Christian; Curley, Cameron; Muskett, Olivia; Begay, Mae-Gilene; Shirley, Lenora; Clark, Clarina; Singer, Judy; Shin, Sonya; Nelson, Adrianne Katrina

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 members. Amber Lalla and colleagues evaluated patient experiences among those receiving support from CHRs trained in the COPE Intervention. Results indicated that patients receiving support from CHRs trained in the COPE Intervention experienced greater trust with their CHRs and more in-depth understanding of their diagnoses.