Improve Health Knowledge Research Articles

Health knowledge after stroke in Switzerland: a survey among health professionals on current practice and suggestions for the implementation of a technology-based educational program for stroke survivors

BackgroundIt is estimated that 1 in 4 stroke survivors will experience a second stroke. Educating patients about risk factors for stroke and a generally healthier lifestyle may help prevent recurrent strokes, which are a burden on society and the healthcare system. The goals of this paper were to investigate the estimated level of knowledge of stroke patients regarding their disease, the methods of information commonly used in clinical practice, the topics that should be included in an educational program aimed at improving health knowledge among stroke survivors, and how such a program could be delivered with the help of technology-based education (i.e., information delivered by digital platforms such as smartphones or rehabilitation technologies).MethodsWe performed a survey among health professionals working with stroke patients in Switzerland.Results161 health professionals of different backgrounds took part in the survey, and 94 completed it. According to the results, only 33% of healthcare professionals thought that patients were well informed about stroke one month after stroke onset. These findings suggest that there is room for improvement in how stroke patients are educated about stroke, risk factors, and prevention. Additionally, it was highlighted that technology is not commonly used in clinical practice to support patients’ education, although this is an acceptable method for healthcare professionals. The results also helped to identify key topics to be included in an educational program and recommendations for implementing such a program in rehabilitation technologies.ConclusionsThis work allowed gaining more insight into healthcare professionals’ opinions on the potential of technology-based education and key aspects to consider when implementing it to support health and prevention knowledge after stroke.

Outreach of HIV/AIDS Disease on Prisoners at Women Prison of Class IIA Jakarta Timur

This program aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of inmates regarding HIV/AIDS while also reducing stigma and discrimination within the prison environment. This program is based on data indicating a higher prevalence of HIV among prisoners compared to the general population. The primary challenges faced include a lack of information and education about HIV/AIDS and limited access to healthcare services within the prison. The program’s methodology includes planning activities with clearly defined goals and targets, forming a working team, and developing educational materials. The program’s implementation involves an initial outreach phase, followed by an educational session consisting of lectures and interactive discussions. Monitoring and evaluation are conducted by collecting data and assessing the activities to measure the program’s effectiveness using interview with prisoner and checklist. A total of 25 participants, aged between 21 and 50 years, participated in this program. The results demonstrated active participation and enthusiasm from the inmates (100%), indicating the program’s success in bridging knowledge gaps and reducing stigma. This program has fostered a healthier, safer prison environment and better-prepared inmates for social reintegration with improved health knowledge. It is hoped that this program can serve as a model for other prisons in Indonesia in the efforts to prevent and combat HIV/AIDS.

The role of health education in improving student health in Indonesian schools

Health plays an important role in supporting educational success, with healthy students tending to have better concentration, endurance and motivation to learn. To achieve this, schools implement health education programmes aimed at improving students' knowledge, attitudes and skills in maintaining and improving their health. The programme includes formal and informal activities integrated in the curriculum, extracurricular initiatives and school health projects. Effective health education holds the potential to address these issues. While existing research has shown that health education can improve students' knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to health, direct evidence of its effect on students' health remains limited. The implications of health education are profound, including improved health knowledge, positive attitudes toward health, and the development of vital health maintenance skills. Additionally, it fosters a healthy learning environment, which is conducive to improved academic outcomes. Future interventions may involve the development of tailored materials, the integration of technology, and collaborative endeavors across multiple stakeholders. In conclusion, health education is a potent tool for enhancing student well-being and, consequently, educational success. By addressing health challenges and promoting healthy behaviors, health education contributes significantly to creating a brighter and healthier future for students in Indonesia and beyond.

Peer Education as a Tool to Improve Health Knowledge for People Who Are Incarcerated: A Secondary Analysis of Data From the Indiana Peer Education Program ECHO.

Considerable health inequities occur among people who are incarcerated, with ripple effects into broader community health. The Indiana Peer Education Program uses the Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) model to train people who are incarcerated as peer health educators. This analysis sought to evaluate the effectiveness of this program and explore emergent themes not covered in survey instruments. Survey data for both peer educators and their students were assessed using multivariate regression. Qualitative data were used to triangulate survey findings and explore additional themes via thematic analysis. Students showed improvements in knowledge scores and postrelease behavior intentions; peer educators improved in knowledge, health attitudes, and self-efficacy. Qualitative data affirmed survey findings and pointed toward peer educators acquiring expertise in the content they teach, and how to teach it, and that positive results likely expand beyond participants to others in prison, their families, and the communities to which they return. Though preliminary, the results confirm an earlier analysis of the New Mexico Peer Education Program ECHO, adding to the evidence that training individuals who are incarcerated as peer educators on relevant public health topics increases health knowledge and behavior intentions and likely results in improvements in personal and public health outcomes.

Workplace wellness across the lifespan: A pilot program for health promotion in a low- and middle-income country.

Considering that a sizable segment of the population spends significant amount of time at work, workplaces have been identified as practical platforms for health educational programs. Although employee wellness programs in high-income countries have shown measurable benefits in productivity and physical and mental health, evidence-based programs in low- and middle-income countries, such as Lebanon, are unavailable. The aim is to develop and implement a pilot workplace wellness program focusing on health-related areas to improve health knowledge and behavior among working men and women of reproductive age. In collaboration with March of Dimes, the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network developed a culturally sensitive health education program focusing on lifestyle, infection, nutrition and family planning. Sessions were delivered by a multidisciplinary team of specialists at a local bank in Lebanon. To assess the impact of the program, participants completed Knowledge and Behavior Assessment Questionnaire (KBAQ) before and after implementation. KBAQ was conducted 6 months after implementation to measure retention and continuing impact. Forty-seven participants completed the program, of whom 44.7% are male, 98% have university degree and 56.5% are married. Total knowledge score improved significantly from 64.2 to 74.3 and remained significant at 6 months post-implementation with a score of 71.7 (p < 0.001). At 6-month follow-up, emotional score improved (p = 0.028), while smoking decreased (p = 0.008). Also, employees' health knowledge and behavior showed sustained and significant improvement. We plan to implement our program at other sites and among employees from different backgrounds to understand the impact of the wellness program on employees' knowledge and behaviors at a larger scale.

Qualitative Evaluation of a Health Literacy Program for Older Adults Who Live in a Community Dwelling in Brazil.

To address current gaps in health literacy research and practice in low-resource settings, the 'Alfa-Health Program' was designed to improve health literacy in older adults who live in a community dwelling in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community in North-East Brazil. In this longitudinal qualitative study, participants were interviewed before and after participating in the group-based program that was delivered November 2017 to December 2017 in the Primary Care Health Unit. Semi-structured interviews were guided by a previously validated health literacy instrument, translated and adapted for use in Brazil. Data was analyzed using Framework analysis. Of the 21 participants, the majority were age 60 to 69 years with a median of 4-years of school education. Our analysis identified self-reported improvements in health knowledge, behaviors, and skills that matched program content and indicated that participants were supported to manage their health conditions more autonomously. Other themes reflect the distributed nature of health literacy and the potential for group-based health literacy programs to facilitate feelings of social support and cohesion through co-learning. However, age-related deficits in memory and external and structural factors remained important barriers to program participation. This study provides insight into developing health literacy in low-resource settings with older adults, where health literacy is compounded by social determinants and cognitive and sensory changes that contribute to health disparities. Although the targeted Alfa Health Program addresses calls to ensure that priority is proportionate to need by reaching and engaging population groups who are disproportionately affected by low health literacy, further work is needed to adapt the program for people who are unable to read or write. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2024;8(3):e140-e150.].

Research Status of the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Theory Model in Gastric Cancer Prevention.

Gastric cancer, as a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, poses a serious threat to people's health. The knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) theory model shows important value in gastric cancer prevention by improving health knowledge, changing health attitudes or beliefs, and guiding healthy practice. At present, the application of this model in gastric cancer prevention has gradually received attention. This article reviews the current application status of the KAP theory model in gastric cancer prevention and analyzes the challenges, countermeasures, and development prospects in order to provide a reference for gastric cancer prevention.

From art to health action: lessons from a community-based, culturally tailored arts-meets-health educational campaign in Hispanic communities.

Robust digital and community-led approaches are needed to combat health misinformation, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such gaps in public health outreach, compounded by systemic health barriers, contributed to higher rates of COVID-19 infection, mortality, and mental health effects among Hispanics during the peak of the pandemic. Thus, we conducted a community-based art-meets-health intervention [Stay Connected Los Angeles (SCLA)] to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hispanic communities. Led by local artists in collaboration with public health specialists and community members, SCLA used multimedia to promote infection mitigation behaviors and psychological well-being among the 120,000 residents of Eastern Los Angeles. Campaign materials were designed with input from community representatives and included digital media, large-scale murals, and comic-book style pieces. Two semi-structured focus groups (one in English and another in Spanish) were conducted to solicit participants' views on attributes of the campaign. Independent coders analyzed transcripts and applied thematic analysis to summarize key learnings regarding central health and mitigation messages, media modalities, how health information would be communicated, and the ideal spokespersons for delivering health-related messages. Focus group participants emphasized the effectiveness of social media, GIFs, and references to popular media. Further, youth involvement in the creative process was deemed to be important. Participants highlighted the need for clarity in public health messaging and adaptation of visual campaigns to the preferences of diverse age groups through different art styles. Finally, community leaders were found to be critical health information sources. As a model of a culturally tailored arts-meets health public education campaign, SCLA yielded valuable information on how to structure future public health messaging and media to create a meaningful improvement in health knowledge, mental well-being, and compliance with mitigation behaviors in communities that are often overlooked. Contributions from local artists can heighten appeal and acceptability of messages.

FUN AEROBIC DAN EDUKASI KESEHATAN MENGENAI AKTIVITAS FISIK DAN KONSUMSI MAKANAN BERGIZI DI SD LAZUARDI CORDOVA GCS, JAKARTA BARAT

One of the problems of school-age children is a change in lifestyle from traditional life style to sedentary life style which is the cause of lack of physical activity that can increase the risk of obesity. The practice of regular physical activity is very important to improve body health which can have an impact on student achievement. Communication, information, and education among students about the importance of practicing regular physical activity are needed to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physical activity. The purpose of this activity is to provide health education about physical activity and consumption of nutritious food, practice aerobic gymnastics together, and health examinations and consultations. The targets of this activity are students, parents, teachers, and employees of SD Lazuardi Cordova GCS, West Jakarta. These activities were carried out in the form of health education through lectures and discussions, practice aerobic gymnastics together, health checks such as height, weight, blood pressure, nutritional status, blood sugar, and uric acid, as well as health consultations. Regular health education in schools is needed to improve health knowledge, attitudes, and practices in students.

Enhancing the health knowledge and health literacy of recently resettled refugees through classroom-based instructional methods.

Health education can elevate health literacy, which is associated with health knowledge, health-seeking behaviors and overall improved health outcomes. Refugees are particularly vulnerable to the effects of low health knowledge and literacy, which can exacerbate already poor health stemming from their displacement experience. Traditional learning methods including classroom-based instruction are typically how health-related information is presented to refugees. Through a series of interactive classes focused on specific health topics relevant to the resettled refugee population, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a classroom-based health education model in enhancing the health knowledge of recently resettled refugees. We used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate differences in pre- and post-class knowledge through test performance. We found a significant improvement in health knowledge in two refugee groups: females and those who were employed. Culturally and socially sensitive considerations including language inclusiveness, class timing, transportation and childcare provisions are important when creating an educational program for individuals with refugee backgrounds. Developing focused approaches to instruction that enhance health knowledge could lead to better health literacy and ultimately improve health-related behaviors and outcomes in the refugee population.

SELF CARE TRAININGS FOR NCD MANAGEMENT IN OLD AGE IN INDIA

Abstract With over 100 million older people, India has the second largest elderly population in the world. Older people in many parts of India, especially in the rural settings live in vulnerable conditions with limited facilities and with an overall poor health status. GRAVIS has been working actively in the Thar Desert of India to address older people’s health. It has multi-layered health intervention combining medical services, public health activities and research component. Self-care training is integral part of our work with older people. With help of locally designed contents, GRAVIS team trains older people on healthy ageing. The curriculum includes 10 modules focusing on basics of human body and biology of ageing, Common diseases in old age, prevention of common diseases, management of common diseases and useful information on Government health programmes. Older people in groups of 12-15 attend trainings once in 15 days. To provide service to older people and to take self care education further, GRAVIS also works with a cadre of Village based Health Workers (VHWs). The impact of our self-care training interventions has been quite positive. The trainings are well received within the community. Over 1,500 older people have been trained and over 85% report a significant increase in their knowledge levels. GRAVIS has been able to draw the attention of local health authorities and hopes that the trainings could be scaled up further. Self care and improved health knowledge are critically important for older people to stay healthy, particularly in remote and resource scarce settings.

The Black Men's Health Forum: Improving Health Knowledge and Willingness to Participate in Research.

The Black Men's Health Forum, a 6-week online health education intervention for African American men and accountability partners of African American men, was conducted to increase awareness of health issues that disproportionately affect African American men. In this article, we describe the intervention and report on the immediate benefits of the intervention, including changes in health knowledge and perception of research participation. Participants completed a pre-evaluation prior to participating in the forum and a post-evaluation after each session to capture data on sociodemographic information, medical history, health knowledge, and health behaviors. A total of 60 participants (30 African American men and 30 accountability partners) completed the forum. African American men had a mean age of 61.1 years while accountability partners had a mean age of 57.6 years. Overall health knowledge increased by 6.9 points for African American men and 2.8 points for accountability partners. Before the forum began, nine African American men reported ever participating in a research study. The proportion of African American men who reported that they would definitely participate in research in the next 12 months after participating in the forum increased by 40%. Through culturally tailored programming, the Black Men's Health Forum increased access to health information as well as African American male medical professionals and health researchers for African American men in the community. Exposure to health information resulted in significant increases in health knowledge and willingness to participate in health research among African American men.

Effectiveness of health management among individuals at high risk of stroke: An intervention study based on the health ecology model and self-determination theory (HEM-SDT)

BackgroundStroke is the second leading cause of death in adults worldwide. However, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented by modifying risk factors. ObjectiveThe study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Health Ecology Model and Self-Determination Theory (HEM-SDT) based health management intervention among individuals at high risk of stroke. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted in Zhengzhou from May 1st, 2020, to December 31st, 2020. A total of 229 participants were recruited for the study, with 116 individuals at high risk of stroke being randomly assigned to the HEM-SDT health management group, while 113 participants were enrolled in the control group, following their current routine practices. The Generalized Estimating Equation model (GEE) was used to analyze the differences in health knowledge, belief and, behavior between the two groups at the beginning of the intervention, and at 6-month intervals after the intervention. The chi-square test was utilized to assess the control rate of risk factors. ResultsAfter 6 months of intervention, there were significant improvements in health knowledge, behavior, and belief among the participants. The study found significant differences in the interaction effects between time and group for health knowledge (Mean, SD = 25.62 ± 3.88, 95%CI: 7.944–9.604, P＜0.001), health belief (Mean, SD = 87.18 ± 14.21, 95%CI: 23.999–29.887, P＜0.001), and health behavior (Mean, SD = 173.28 ± 24.22, 95%CI: 22.332–36.904, P＜0.001). Additionally, the rates of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, high or medium risk condition of stroke, obesity, hyperhomocysteinemia, smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise also showed statistical significance (P＜0.05) after the intervention. ConclusionThe HEM-SDT health management model improves the health knowledge, behavior, and beliefs in people at high risk of stroke and remarkably it shows improvement in modifiable risk factors. It can be recommended for systematic health management in people at high-risk of stroke.

The Role of Community-Based Health Insurance in Empowerment of Women’s Health and Economic Rights in Ethiopia

The guarantee of fundamental health and economic rights and the role of gender equality are still relevant and quotidian topics, especially in developing countries. Despite the constitutional guarantees within the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, women’s status remains significantly lower than men’s, primarily due to lower income, limited access to education, and various social constraints. Due to the absence of social security, health insurance and lack of financial autonomy and self-sufficiency, females often could not access healthcare independently. This situation is changing for women and their families in Ethiopia. The study aims to assess the role of community-based health insurance (CBHI) in fostering the health and economic empowerment of women’s rights. The CBHI proves to be an effective means of social security that boosts the provision of health services to members of susceptible peoples, which can improve health knowledge, preventative healthcare measures, and maternal and child mortality rates. This initiative can considerably increase women’s access to healthcare services while also providing them with chances for economic empowerment. Those women who are CBHI members spend less on healthcare (reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures), allowing them to increase household income and allocate more resources towards other household expenses or savings. Due to the enrolment, women and other parts of their families have the opportunity for decision-making power and freedom to decide about their health because of financial constraints. Increasing access to the CBHI programs and ensuring that these are accessible to all women and other marginalised communities can help address gender disparities in healthcare access and economic opportunities, ultimately leading to a more equitable society.

Perspectives From Black and White Participants and Care Partners on Return of Amyloid and Tau PET Imaging and Other Research Results.

Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker testing is now common in research and approaching clinical translation. Disclosure protocols must be informed by diverse participants' perspectives on if/how the information would be useful. This study utilized semistructured interviews assessing interest in receiving positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid and tau results, as well as perceived risks and benefits of hypothetical PET disclosure as a function of race and participant diagnosis. Participants [39% Black; 61% White; Mage =74.28 (5.98)] included 57 adults diagnosed as either cognitively healthy (58%) or with mild cognitive impairment (42%) and their respective care partners [33% Black; 67% White; Mage =66.93 (10.92)]. Most dyads endorsed strong interest in PET results (82.5% of both participants and partners) regardless of race or diagnosis. Black care partners were less interested in receiving the participant's results than White care partners ( χ2(4) =8.31, P =0.047). Reasons for disclosure were diverse and highly personalized, including access to treatments or clinical trials (23.2% participants; 29.8% partners), advance planning (14.3% participants; 17.5% partners), and improved health knowledge (12.5% participants; 15.8% partners). In contrast, over 80% of respondents denied any risks of disclosure. Results suggest that predisclosure education, decisional capacity assessment, and a flexible disclosure approach are needed.

An mHealth Platform for People With HIV Receiving Care in Washington, District of Columbia: Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Feedback.

HIV viral suppression and retention in care continue to be challenging goals for people with HIV in Washington, District of Columbia (DC). The PositiveLinks mobile app is associated with increased retention in care and viral load suppression in nonurban settings. The app includes features such as daily medication reminders, mood and stress check-ins, an anonymized community board for peer-to-peer social support, secure messaging to care teams, and resources for general and clinic-specific information, among other features. PositiveLinks has not been tailored or tested for this distinct urban population of people with HIV. This study aimed to inform the tailoring of a mobile health app to the needs of people with HIV and their providers in Washington, DC. We conducted a 3-part formative study to guide the tailoring of PositiveLinks for patients in the DC Cohort, a longitudinal cohort of >12,000 people with HIV receiving care in Washington, DC. The study included in-depth interviews with providers (n=28) at study clinics, focus groups with people with HIV enrolled in the DC Cohort (n=32), and a focus group with members of the DC Regional Planning Commission on Health and HIV (COHAH; n=35). Qualitative analysis used a constant comparison iterative approach; thematic saturation and intercoder agreement were achieved. Emerging themes were identified and grouped to inform an adaptation of PositiveLinks tailored for patients and providers. Emerging themes for patients, clinic providers, and COHAH providers included population needs and concerns, facilitators and barriers to engagement in care and viral suppression, technology use, anticipated benefits, questions and concerns, and suggestions. DC Cohort clinic and COHAH provider interviews generated an additional theme: clinic processes. For patients, the most commonly discussed potential benefits included improved health knowledge and literacy (mentioned n=10 times), self-monitoring (n=7 times), and connection to peers (n=6 times). For providers, the most common anticipated benefits were improved communication with the clinic team (n=21), connection to peers (n=14), and facilitation of self-monitoring (n=11). Following data review, site principal investigators selected core PositiveLinks features, including daily medication adherence, mood and stress check-ins, resources, frequently asked questions, and the community board. Principal investigators wanted English and Spanish versions depending on the site. Two additional app features (messaging and documents) were selected as optional for each clinic site. Overall, 3 features were not deployed as not all participating clinics supported them. Patient and provider perspectives of PositiveLinks had some overlap, but some themes were unique to each group. Beta testing of the tailored app was conducted (August 2022). This formative work prepared the team for a cluster randomized controlled trial of PositiveLinks' efficacy. Randomization of clinics to PositiveLinks or usual care occurred in August 2022, and the randomized controlled trial launched in November 2022. RR2-10.2196/37748.

Construction Health Hazard Control Innovations: A Web-Based Intervention to Change Perceptions

ABSTRACT A theory-based intervention strategy to improve perceptions of construction health hazard control innovations was developed and tested in the following trades: masonry (n = 90), concrete (n = 52), and asphalt roofing (n = 105). A web-based intervention was designed to target constructs of the Prevention through Design Adoption Readiness Model (PtD ARM) and included information about the health impacts of construction health hazards; side-by-side videos of both conventional and innovative tools; information about control effectiveness, productivity, and task performance. The interventions were evaluated using a pre-test/posttest, within-subjects experimental design, with control groups. Posttest data were collected immediately, three months, and six months following the intervention. A validated survey instrument was used to collect data regarding dependent variables: health knowledge (HK), perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived impacts on productivity (PU), perceived worker susceptibility to health effects (SUS), perceived health-effect severity (SEV), adoption readiness (AR), and actual use (AU). Open-ended questions generated qualitative data regarding benefits and barriers to adoption of the innovations and were analyzed using Content Analysis. Gain-score ANOVA found significant improvements in PEOU and PU in all intervention groups. In addition, significant improvements in HK, risk, and AR were found in the asphalt roofing intervention group.

The effect of mass media campaigns on oral health knowledge: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Knowledge and awareness gained from mass media can prepare people for lifestyle changes and impact their health and well-being. Considering the differences in the results of primary studies, we decided to conduct this study to evaluate the effect of mass media campaigns on oral health knowledge as a systematic meta-analysis and review. The databases such as the Web of Sciences (ISI), Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and the Cochrane Library were searched systematically until February 2022. Data pooling was performed using a random effects model. The effect sizes were estimated as odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additional analyses, including sensitivity, subgroup, and publication bias analyses, were also conducted. Our meta-analysis comprised a total number of seven articles. The pooled results indicated significant increases in oral health knowledge among included studies (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.20-2.24, p < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, the effects of mass media campaigns on oral health knowledge remained significant for the studies with follow-up of less than 150 weeks (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.49-1.91) and working-age populations (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.40-2.32) compared to other categories. In general, this study showed that mass media campaigns may have positive effects on oral health knowledge, especially in the working-age population; it seems that for improving health knowledge among children, more initiatives are needed. Besides, the effects of these campaigns seem to be time-dependent and higher in shorter follow-up periods.

Mobile phone coverage and infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

Infant mortality is still high in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mobile phone technology has the potential to reduce mortality by facilitating the exchange of information. To test for effects, we combine georeferenced information on mobile phone signal coverage with infant mortality data on 1,268,041 children born in 30 Sub-Saharan African countries between 1999–2016. Our results reveal that infant mortality risk drops substantially as mobile phone coverage expands. Infants are 0.9 percentage points less likely to die within the first year after birth compared to their sibling(s) when mobile phone signal is available. In line with this result, we also find that fertility rates decline with the rollout of mobile coverage. Suggestive evidence indicates that improved health knowledge is relevant in explaining our findings. Mobile-phone related changes in access to in-person healthcare services or improvements in income opportunities, on the other hand, are unlikely to play an important role.

A holistic approach to well-being and neglected tropical diseases: evaluating the impact of community-led support groups in Nigeria using community-based participatory research.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect around 1 billion people, many living in the poorest parts of the world. NTDs often lead to serious long-term physical impairments. Stigma, disability, poverty and social isolation interact, resulting in poor quality of life and significant psychosocial impacts. The holistic health and psychosocial needs of persons affected by NTDs are often overlooked in integrated NTD programme design and research. Furthermore, the viewpoints of persons affected are often absent and spaces for empowerment and advocacy are limited. Using a community-based participatory research design, our study partnered with persons affected and caregivers as co-researchers to address this gap. Through the process, we co-designed and implemented community-based support groups in Kaduna and Kwara, Nigeria, where NTDs are endemic. This paper utilises photovoice with support group facilitators (persons affected); participant observation of group meetings; rapid micronarratives with support group members; and key informant interviews with programme implementers at the state and local government area levels to explore the impact of the support groups from the perspective of people affected by NTDs and other health system actors. Perceived impacts of the support groups included a sense of ownership and empowerment, stigma reduction, improved self-esteem, improved health knowledge and health outcomes and capacity strengthening through vocational training. Support groups, as community spaces of healing, offer a low-cost holistic intervention for chronic disease and disability.