Diabetes Training for Community Health Workers.

Judith Aponte

doi:10.4172/2161-0711.1000378

Abstract

A 2.5-month diabetes education training for community health workers (CHWs) was developed, implemented, and evaluated. Training methods used included case studies, role-playing, and lectures. Exams were used throughout the training for its evaluation. Teaching was delivered by different ways: a one day American Diabetes Association (ADA) course; a five day Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP); Conversation Maps; and a series of seven National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) diabetes education booklets. Qualitative and quantitative evaluative methods were used during and after the training. The CHWs' diabetes knowledge was evaluated by a pre- and post-test Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ). The post-test was conducted one week after completing the training. The findings showed that the diabetes knowledge of the CHWs increased. Diabetes competencies and evaluative tools need to be developed specific for CHWs as a way to standardize all CHW diabetes trainings.

Highlights

Community Health Workers (CHWs) – known as promotoras, lay health educators, peer educators and community health outreach workers, among other names – are “lay members of communities who work either for pay or as volunteers... usually sharing ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status and life experiences with the community members they serve” [1,2,3,4]
The purpose of this article is twofold: 1) evaluate the diabetes education training and preparation provided to three new graduates of an urban community college community health workers (CHWs) certificate program; and 2) evaluate the strategies used to assist the CHWs deliver engaging diabetes education classes
The research assistants (RAs) were asked to journal their evaluations of the CHWs delivering the educational classes

Summary

Introduction

Community Health Workers (CHWs) – known as promotoras, lay health educators, peer educators and community health outreach workers, among other names – are “lay members of communities who work either for pay or as volunteers... usually sharing ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status and life experiences with the community members they serve” [1,2,3,4]. Utilizing CHWs over professional health care providers has many advantages in delivering effective health education, including shared religious beliefs, and social characteristics [4]. Given that they often share the cultural values and characteristics of the population they serve, CHWs have shown to develop and strengthen connections between the health care system and their own community through health-related awareness and education [5]. CHWs have shown to be effective in ethnic minority communities because they speak the same language and understand the culture, especially in terms of healthrelated beliefs and practices [4], some disadvantages in utilizing CHWs include lack of preparation and knowledge in the specific health issue (e.g., diabetes); and the need of support from other health professionals (e.g., nurses). A 2.5-month diabetes education training for community health workers (CHWs) was developed, implemented, and evaluated

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion