Prioritizing Competencies for “Research” Promotores and Community Health Workers

Abstract

Background. The community health worker (CHW) model is utilized globally to promote health and reduce health disparities in hard-to-reach and underserved communities. The model is deemed successful due to involvement of these natural helpers who are familiar with the local customs, language, and traditions. “Research” CHWs (also known as promotores) serve as cultural mediators between their community and academic researchers and are increasingly involved in the design and implementation of research; yet few of these individuals have received formal training in research methods or ethics. This study identified requisite skills and knowledge needed by research CHWs. Method. Investigators who utilized the CHW/promotor model were recruited to complete a survey and participate in one of four focus group sessions. Participants identified (1) research roles, (2) training received, (3) research competencies, (4) training barriers and facilitators, and (5) assessment preferences. Results. Participants ( n = 20) completed a survey with 19 also participating in a focus group session. All participants involved CHWs in research implementation, with nearly half involving CHWs in the study design and/or dissemination of findings phases. Critical thinking skills and application of ethical principles (e.g., demonstrating respect) were prioritized over knowledge of research infrastructure (e.g., institutional review board/ethics review process). Research ethics training designed for academic researchers was deemed inappropriate because sophisticated terminology and web-based delivery were perceived as an access barrier. Self-assessment and contextualized scenarios were recommended to assess critical thinking. Conclusions. Researchers using the CHW model should provide relevant and accessible research competency training.

Addressing Health Disparities in the Rural United States: Advocacy as Caregiving among Community Health Workers and Promotores de Salud

“…Our projects draw on ethnographic, qualitative data collection strategies particularly well-suited for research with CHWs and promotores, since they can elucidate the constellation of factors that impact caregiving, relationships with clients and stakeholders, and areas for policy development [13]. We follow the suggestion of scholars who have called for the inclusion of CHWs and promotores as research partners [13][14][15][16][17], especially as they share a close connection with the communities they serve and can leverage these relationships for data collection when the presence of researchers may otherwise be disruptive. In the Results section below, the names and titles of organizations in this article are pseudonyms.…”

Change agents in the oncology workforce: Let's be clear about community health workers and patient navigators

“…26 The literature describes CHWs variously using numerous other position titles: Community Health Educators, Promotoras/Promotores, Community Outreach Specialists, Lay Health Advisors, Lay Health Workers (LHWs), Lay Health Educators, Community Health Representatives, Outreach Workers, Health Navigators, and Research CHWs. 38 Health educators provide culturally tailored educational interventions to meet community needs. 14,15,39,40 They are described as CHWs who are well versed in cultural norms or who recognize and address community-specific barriers 14,15,39 and are selected based on their involvement in their community as well as their existing knowledge of certain cancers and diseases.…”

“…The literature describes CHWs variously using numerous other position titles: Community Health Educators, Promotoras/Promotores, Community Outreach Specialists, Lay Health Advisors, Lay Health Workers (LHWs), Lay Health Educators, Community Health Representatives, Outreach Workers, Health Navigators, and Research CHWs 38 . Health educators provide culturally tailored educational interventions to meet community needs 14,15,39,40 .…”

Exploring the sustaining factors that motivate nurses to work in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea

“…Research is an ongoing exploration that plays a vital role in building capacity in any given society. This means that research enables researchers to identify issues and solutions, where they can confirm or refute a hypothesis or grouping and develop or refine a theory to see whether it either predicts or controls certain events (Nebeker et al, 2015). There are two different major approaches to any research study: qualitative and quantitative.…”