Community health workers and promotoras’ perspectives of a research best practice course: A focus group study

Varma, Deepthi S.; Samuels, Elias; Piatt, Gretchen; Watkins, Daphne C.; Spiroff, Meghan; Cottler, Linda B.; Gaxiola, Sergio Aguilar; Murphy, Susan L.

doi:10.1017/cts.2022.464

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…Our team met weekly to generate and review drafts of content and provide feedback and produce the finalized version for online evaluation with the CHW/P sample. After we developed the informed consent module, we conducted a qualitative study using focus groups to receive feedback on the look and feel of the course as well as the content [ 19 ]. In addition to these focus groups, we ensured that multiple stakeholders reviewed the content of each module as well as the presentation of the material online.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our team developed training in research best practices for CHWs and Promotoras (hereafter referred to as CHW/Ps), their Spanish-speaking and for the most part, bilingual counterparts, using a community participatory approach with diverse stakeholders. Additionally, we previously reported CHW/Ps’ initial perceptions of an early version of the training [ 19 ] and revised and refined the materials based on feedback. This led to accessible, culturally- and linguistically appropriate training modules for CHW/Ps to better support research in the settings where they work.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of an online research best practices training for community health workers and promotoras

Murphy,

Jay,

Samuels

et al. 2023

J. Clin. Trans. Sci.

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Introduction: Community health workers and promotoras (CHW/Ps) have a fundamental role in facilitating research with communities. However, no national standard training exists as part of the CHW/P job role. We developed and evaluated a culturally- and linguistically tailored online research best practices course for CHW/Ps to meet this gap. Methods: After the research best practices course was developed, we advertised the opportunity to CHW/Ps nationwide to complete the training online in English or Spanish. Following course completion, CHW/Ps received an online survey to rate their skills in community-engaged research and their perceptions of the course using Likert scales of agreement. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on open-ended response data. Results: 104 CHW/Ps completed the English or Spanish course (n = 52 for each language; mean age 42 years SD ± 12); 88% of individuals identified as female and 56% identified as Hispanic, Latino, or Spaniard. 96%–100% of respondents reported improvement in various skills. Nearly all CHW/Ps (97%) agreed the course was relevant to their work, and 96% felt the training was useful. Qualitative themes related to working more effectively as a result of training included enhanced skills, increased resources, and building bridges between communities and researchers. Discussion: The CHW/P research best practices course was rated as useful and relevant by CHW/Ps, particularly for communicating about research with community members. This course can be a professional development resource for CHW/Ps and could serve as the foundation for a national standardized training on their role related to research best practices.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of an online research best practices training for community health workers and promotoras

Murphy,

Jay,

Samuels

et al. 2023

J. Clin. Trans. Sci.

Self Cite

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“…The FGDs and in-depth interviews were conducted by the first author, who is a qualitative researcher with extensive experience in successfully implementing qualitative research protocols and has published several peer-reviewed qualitative research studies [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptability of an mHealth App for Monitoring Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health: Qualitative Study With Women and Providers

Varma,

Mualem,

Goodin

et al. 2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Up to 15% of pregnant and postpartum women commonly experience undiagnosed and untreated mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, which may result in serious health complications. Mobile health (mHealth) apps related to mental health have been previously used for early diagnosis and intervention but not among pregnant and postpartum women. Objective This study aims to assess the acceptability of using mHealth to monitor and assess perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety. Methods Focus group discussions with pregnant and postpartum women (n=20) and individual interviews with health care providers (n=8) were conducted to inform the acceptability of mHealth and determine its utility for assessing perinatal and postpartum mood symptoms. Participants were recruited via purposive sampling from obstetric clinics and the surrounding community. A semistructured interview guide was developed by an epidemiologist with qualitative research training in consultation with an obstetrician. The first author conducted all focus group discussions and provider interviews either in person or via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) depending on the COVID-19 protocol that was in place during the study period. All interviews were audio recorded with consent; transcribed; and uploaded for coding to ATLAS.ti 8 (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development Gmb H), a qualitative data analysis and retrieval software. Data were analyzed using the deductive content analysis method using a set of a priori codes developed based on the interview guide. Methodological rigor and quality were ensured by adopting a systematic approach during the implementation, data collection, data analysis, and reporting of the data. Results Almost all women and providers had downloaded and used at least 1 health app. The respondents suggested offering short questions in layperson language that could be understood by women of all educational levels and offering no more than 2 to 3 assessments per day at preferred timings decided by the women themselves. They also suggested that the women themselves receive the alerts first, with other options being family members, spouses, or friends if the women themselves did not respond within 24 to 72 hours. Customization and snooze features were strongly endorsed by women and providers to improve acceptability and utility. Women mentioned competing demands on their time during the postpartum period, fatigue, privacy, and the security of mental health data as concerns. Health care professionals highlighted the long-term sustainability of app-based mood assessment and monitoring as an important challenge. Conclusions The findings from this study show that mHealth would be acceptable to pregnant and postpartum women for monitoring mood symptoms. This could inform the development of clinically meaningful and inexpensive tools for facilitating the continuous monitoring of, the early diagnosis of, and an early intervention for mood disorders in this vulnerable population.

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“…The NCATS workgroup paper highlights key areas for leveraging translational science and research to advance DEIA including the use of big data and informatics, prioritizing the health needs of underserved communities, and ensuring evidence-based treatments, and interventions reach the public [18]. Several other papers outline strategies and approaches for improving recruitmentincluding training and hiring community members to do clinical research, standardizing best practices for community health workers, providing new pathways for clinical research within a medical assistant training program, and providing cultural humility training and supportive environments for clinical research coordinators [19][20][21]. Using principles of structural competency and structural humility, LeCroy et al propose research interventions should directly address barriers to research participation within and across special populations based on geographic, socioeconomic, and individual constraints by accounting for them within the study design and giving staff more flexibility and resources to accommodate participants [22].…”

Section: Health Equity Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laying the groundwork to make diversity, equity, and inclusion front and center in clinical and translational research

Egede

Ruiz

Mosley-Johnson

et al. 2023

J. Clin. Trans. Sci.

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Community health workers and promotoras’ perspectives of a research best practice course: A focus group study

Abstract: This version may be subject to change during the production process.

Cited by 7 publications

References 26 publications

Evaluation of an online research best practices training for community health workers and promotoras

Evaluation of an online research best practices training for community health workers and promotoras

Acceptability of an mHealth App for Monitoring Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health: Qualitative Study With Women and Providers

Laying the groundwork to make diversity, equity, and inclusion front and center in clinical and translational research

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