Research evaluating community health worker (CHW) programs inherently involves these natural community leaders in the research process, and often represents community-based participatory research (CBPR). Interpreting the results of CHW intervention studies and replicating their findings requires knowledge of how CHWs are selected and trained. There was inconsistent … [Read more...] about Role development of community health workers: an examination of selection and training processes in the intervention literature.
United States of America
Community health worker intervention to decrease cervical cancer disparities in Hispanic women.
U.S. Hispanic women suffer a disproportionate burden of cervical cancer, with incidence and mortality rates almost twice that of whites. Community health workers, or promotoras, are considered a potential strategy for eliminating such racial and ethnic health disparities. The current study is a randomized trial of a promotora-led educational intervention focused on cervical … [Read more...] about Community health worker intervention to decrease cervical cancer disparities in Hispanic women.
Promotores as researchers: expanding the promotor role in community-based research.
The community health worker, known as promotor in the Hispanic community, is an accepted member of the public health team whose core role is that of bridging target communities with health services. However, the promotor's role in research has not been considered a core function of their work. This article will present the promotor in the additional role of researcher, as … [Read more...] about Promotores as researchers: expanding the promotor role in community-based research.
Texas’ Community Health Workforce: From State Health Promotion Policy to Community-level Practice
In 1999, Texas became the first state in the nation to recognize these workers and their contributions to keeping Texans healthy. This paper examines a state health promotion policy that culminated in a training and certification program for promotores and the impact of this program on the lay health education workforce in Texas. In 1999, the Texas legislature established the … [Read more...] about Texas’ Community Health Workforce: From State Health Promotion Policy to Community-level Practice
New direction for enhancing quality in diabetes care: utilizing telecommunications and paraprofessional outreach workers backed by an expert medical team.
This article assesses the value of using telecommunications with Promotoras (paraprofessional outreach workers) and an expert medical team of registered nurses (RNs) and endocrinologists in an at-risk type 2 diabetic Hispanic population recruited for a telemedicine feasibility project from a free clinic. A Promotoras is the primary educator and the point of communication to … [Read more...] about New direction for enhancing quality in diabetes care: utilizing telecommunications and paraprofessional outreach workers backed by an expert medical team.

