Addressing Training Gaps: A Competency-Based, Telehealth Training Initiative for Community Health Workers

Abstract

Background: To overcome vast variations in Community Health Worker (CHW) training, investigators for the CHW Core Consensus Project (CCCP) derived three types of CHW (Category 1, 2, 3) and established competencies for each category. However, studies are needed that implement these competencies in real-world settings. Objective: Using the six competency domains of the CCCP as a theoretical backbone, we developed and evaluated a training for Category 1 CHWs, individuals whose focus is on community outreach and advocacy. Methods: We developed five telehealth-based, bilingual (Spanish/English) training sessions and implemented them among Category 1 Latino(a) CHWs. We measured the number of CHWs who achieved ≥70% correct on a domain-based posttest, attendance, and qualitative feedback. Results: All (18/18) CHWs achieved at least 70% on the posttest (mean: 93.7%; range 73.3–100%). Training attendance was 98.9%. Using a six-point scale, CHWs reported high levels of satisfaction overall (5.72 ± 0.57/6.0), with telehealth (5.72 ± 0.58/6.0), effectiveness of teaching strategies/methods (5.89 ± 0.32/6.0), achieving training objectives (5.96 ± 0.15/6.0), knowledge improvement (5.72 ± 0.57/6.0), and interest (5.78 ± 0.43/6.0). Conclusion: We successfully developed and evaluated a bilingual training program for Category 1 CHWs to address core competency gaps. High CHW attendance reinforces the value of telehealth modalities and their potential to increase the reach for CHW training. To overcome gaps in chronic disease training, investigations are needed to address additional CHW trainings. Trial Registration: NCT04835493.

Preparing Community Health Workers to Empower Latino(a)s With Diabetes: A Real-World Implementation Study

“…The curriculum was structured on the core competency and workforce framework derived from the CHW Core Consensus Project (CCCP). 11 , 18 In the CCCP, a national expert panel identified 3 categories of CHWs based on training, practice setting, and scope, with higher categories associated with increased specialization. 11 The CCCP also identified 6 domains of CHW core competencies, offering a practice-oriented and quantifiable system for CHW education.…”

“… 26 , 28 - 30 CHWs first received Category 1 five-hour entry-level training on the basics of teaching and working in clinics. 32 CHWs then received disease-specific Categories 2 and 3 training using the same curriculum as was subsequently used for patient participants. CHWs also received ongoing telehealth-based training and support from a physician for 1-h/wk for the duration of the 6-month program.…”

“…[14][15][16][17] TIME CHWs received competency-based, Category 1 medical training (ie, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protected health information, and teaching strategies). 18 Investigators also provided CHWs with Category 2 and Category 3 disease-specific training on diabetes that included the same curricula that CHWs would teach to participants. Investigators previously reported the clinical value of this intervention, including improved A1C, blood pressure, and preventive care measures that were sustained at least 24 months.…”