Background Community-based health workers (CBHWs) are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of the community they serve. Recently, considerable attention has been drawn to CBHWs in promoting healthy behaviors and health outcomes among vulnerable populations who often face health inequities. Objectives This systematic review synthesized evidence concerning the types of CBHW interventions, the qualification and characteristics of CBHWs, and patient outcomes and cost effectiveness of such interventions in vulnerable populations with chronic, non-communicable conditions. Search methods Four electronic database searches, including PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Cochrane, and hand searches of reference collections were undertaken to identify randomized controlled trials published in English before August 2014. Selection A total of 934 unique citations were screened initially for titles and abstracts. Two reviewers then independently evaluated 166 full-text articles that were passed onto review processes. Sixty-one studies and six companion articles (e.g., cost-effectiveness analysis) met eligibility criteria for inclusion. Data collection and analysis Data were extracted by 4 trained research assistants (RA) using a standardized data extraction form developed by the authors. Subsequently, an independent RA reviewed extracted data to check accuracy. Discrepancies were resolved through discussions among the study team members. Each study was evaluated for its quality by two RAs who extracted relevant study information. Inter-rater agreement rates ranged from 61% to 91% (average 86%). Any discrepancies in terms of quality rating were resolved through team discussions. Main results All but 4 studies were conducted in the U.S. The two most common areas for CBHW interventions were cancer prevention (n=30) and cardiovascular disease risk reduction (n=26). The roles assumed by CBHWs included: health education (n=48), counseling (n=36), navigation assistance (n=21), case management (n=4), social services (n=7), and social support (n=18). Fifty-three studies provided information regarding CBHW training, yet CBHW competency evaluation (n=9) and supervision procedures (n=24) were largely underreported. The length and duration of CBHW training ranged from 4 hours to 240 hours with an average of 41.3 hours (median: 16.5 hours) in 24 studies that reported length of training. Eight studies reported the frequency of supervision, which ranged from weekly to monthly. There was a trend toward improvements in cancer prevention (n=21) and cardiovascular risk reduction (n=16). Eight articles documented cost effective analysis and found that integrating CBHWs into the healthcare delivery system was associated with cost-effective and sustainable care. Conclusions CBHW interventions appear to be effective when compared to alternatives and also cost-effective for certain health conditions particularly when partnering with low-income, underserved, and racial a...

A health literacy-focused CHW intervention successfully promoted cancer-screening behaviors and related cognitive and attitudinal outcomes in Korean American women.

Objective As one of the fastest growing ethnic minority groups in the United States, Korean American (KA) women experience a heightened cervical cancer burden. The advent of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine offers an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer disparities in KA women. Yet, the uptake of HPV vaccine among KA adolescents remains suboptimal. Hence, we set out to explore knowledge, perceptions, and decision-making about HPV vaccination among KA women. Methods We conducted four focus groups of 26 KA women who participated in a community-based randomized controlled trial to promote breast and cervical cancer screening. Focus group data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Four main themes emerged from the focus groups: (1) limited awareness and knowledge of HPV vaccine, (2) perceptions and beliefs about HPV vaccination (acceptance, negative perceptions, ambivalence), (3) patterns of decision-making about HPV vaccination (hierarchical, peer-influenced, autonomous, and collaborative), and (4) promoting HPV education and information-sharing in the Korean community. Conclusion KA women are generally favorable toward HPV vaccination but lack awareness and knowledge about HPV. Culturally tailored HPV education programs based on KA women’s decision-making patterns and effective information-sharing by trustworthy sources in comfortable environments are suggested strategies to promote HPV vaccination in the KA community. The findings point to the need for a multi-level approach to addressing linguistic, cultural, and system barriers that the recent immigrant community faces in promoting HPV vaccinations. In the development of targeted interventions for KA women, educational strategies and patterns of decision-making need to be considered.

Objective: The objective of this study is to critically appraise empirical evidence investigating pathways between health literacy (HL) and cervical cancer screening.Methods: A comprehensive search was undertaken to identify English-language studies published before May 2014 that measured HL and cervical cancer screening. After screening for eligibility, we identified 12 articles that met inclusion criteria.Results: Nine studies yielded a positive association between HL and cervical cancer screening. Five studies investigated the relationships between HL, psychosocial variables, and cervical cancer screening and found that HL was associated with cervical cancer knowledge (n = 4) and cancer worry (n = 2). Separately, cancer knowledge (n = 2) and perceived barriers (n = 1) were correlated with cervical cancer screening. One study investigated an indirect pathway of HL to cervical cancer screening through health knowledge, although the indirect pathway was non-significant. Overall, the investigations tended to focus on print-related HL domain only and included only English-speaking or Spanishspeaking women. In addition, the studies were limited by lack of theoretical basis (n = 10) or temporality (n = 10) and use of self-reported screening status (n = 7).Conclusion: Evidence supports a positive link between HL and cervical cancer screening. There is only limited evidence to delineate indirect pathways linking HL and cervical cancer screening. Studies using a multidimensional validated measure of HL are needed in diverse groups of women, particularly those with a heightened burden of cervical cancer. With continuing cervical cancer disparities among culturally and linguistically diverse women, delineating how HL influences cervical cancer screening may help develop effective intervention strategies to reduce the disparities experienced by these women.

Background-Community-based health workers (CBHWs) are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of the community they serve. Recently, considerable attention has been drawn to CBHWs in promoting healthy behaviors and health outcomes among vulnerable populations who often face health inequities.

Lack of medical care in North Korea and vulnerability to human trafficking during their migration increase risks of cervical cancer among North Korean refugees. To better understand factors influencing Pap test use, we conducted a qualitative study of 8 North Korean refugees in South Korea. Individual barriers were limited knowledge, lack of perceived need for preventive services, and concerns about costs. Environmental facilitators included having female providers, receiving family support, and free screenings. Refugees’ health outlook, including viewing cancers as fatal diseases, hindered seeking Pap tests. Multi-faceted approaches to address individual and environmental factors in promoting Pap tests are warranted.

BackgroundUnderstanding how individuals make decisions about Pap tests concerning their personal values helps health‐care providers offer tailored approaches to guide patients’ decision making. Yet research has largely ignored decision making about Pap tests among immigrant women who experience increased risk of cervical cancer.ObjectiveTo explore decision making about Pap tests among Korean immigrant women.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study using 32 semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews with Korean immigrant women residing in a north‐eastern metropolitan area. Data were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive coding.ResultsAlthough most women with positive decisions made their own decisions, some women deferred to their providers, and others made decisions in collaboration with their providers and significant others. While women making positive decisions tended to consider both barriers to and facilitators of having Pap tests, women making negative decisions predominantly discussed the barriers to having Pap tests, such as modesty and differences between the South Korean and US health‐care systems. The women's reflections on their decisions differed regarding their Pap test decisions.ConclusionsWomen's desired roles in the decision‐making process and reflection on their decision outcome appeared to vary, although most participants with positive decisions made their own decisions and were satisfied with their decisions. Future research should conduct longitudinal, quantitative studies to test our findings regarding decision‐making processes and outcomes about Pap tests.ImplicationsThe findings should be incorporated into cervical cancer screening practices to fulfil the unmet needs of immigrant women in patient‐provider communication and to facilitate women's decision making about Pap tests.

BackgroundCommunity health worker (CHW) interventions are a successful strategy to promote health among HIV-negative and persons living with HIV (PLWH). Psychosocial factors are critical dimensions of HIV/AIDS care contributing to prognosis of the disease, yet it is unclear how CHW interventions improve psychosocial outcomes in PLWH. The purpose of this study was to critically appraise the types, scope, and nature of CHW interventions designed to address psychosocial outcomes in PLWH.MethodsWe performed database searches—PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane—to identify randomized controlled trials published in English before April 2017. Fourteen articles met the eligibility criteria.ResultsHalf of the studies were conducted in the United States. Social cognitive theory was used more than once in nine theory-guided studies. CHW interventions were largely focused on reducing depression (n = 6) or stigma related to HIV (n = 4), or promoting quality of life (n = 4), social support (n = 4), and self-efficacy (n = 4). Didactic methods and role-playing were used to train CHWs. CHWs played multiple roles in delivering intervention, including a counselor and a supporter (n = 10), educator (n = 5), or a navigator (n = 3). CHW intervention fidelity was assessed in 4 studies. Five studies found positive changes in six psychosocial outcomes including quality of life (2 of 4) and self-efficacy (2 of 4). CHW interventions had no effect on social support in 2 of 4 studies, and stigma in 3 of 4 studies. None of the CHW interventions were successful in reducing depressive symptoms among PLWH.ConclusionsEvidence partially supported the use of CHWs in promoting psychosocial outcomes in PLWH. Future CHW intervention should be expanded in scope to address key psychosocial determinants of HIV/AIDS outcomes such as health literacy. Further, fidelity measures should be incorporated into intervention delivery.