Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristen J. Wells, Andrea J. Dwyer, Elizabeth Calhoun, Patricia A. Valverde
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges globally, particularly in the United States. The World Health Organization recommends engaging at-risk populations, providing accurate information, conducting contact tracing, and supporting those affected. Community health workers and non-clinical patient navigators play a crucial role in addressing the pandemic.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Tracy A. Battaglia, Xiaochen Zhang, Andrea J. Dwyer, Carl H. Rush, Electra D. Paskett
Summary: In order to promote and expand the life-saving roles in cancer care, the oncology field must adopt clear and consistent job titles and occupational identities.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Carl H. Rush, Denise Octavia Smith, Durrell J. Fox, Ashley Wennerstrom
Summary: The roles of patient navigators (PNs) and community health workers (CHWs) have different origins and developmental paths in the United States. Despite evidence of CHWs’ effectiveness since the 1960s, their professional identity and national representation have lagged behind that of PNs. Challenges such as limited funding and support have hindered the progress of CHWs. The establishment of the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) provides new opportunities and a platform for CHWs to advance their profession and elevate their status. NACHW plays a crucial role in improving federal funding, sustaining resources for CHWs and their organizations, and driving equity in the rebuilding of public health infrastructure and health systems.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nicole Yao, Monica Kowalczyk, LaToya Gregory, Jeannine Cheatham, Tarrah DeClemente, Kenneth Fox, Stacy Ignoffo, Anna Volerman
Summary: This study is the first to explore how experienced community health workers can support student health in school settings. The findings highlight the roles and responsibilities of school-based CHWs, the importance of collaborations and trainings, and the challenges they may face.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
C. Vujovich-Dunn, H. Wand, J. M. L. Brotherton, H. Gidding, J. Sisnowski, R. Lorch, M. Veitch, V. Sheppeard, P. Effler, S. R. Skinner, A. Venn, C. Davies, J. Hocking, L. Whop, J. Leask, K. Canfell, L. Sanci, M. Smith, M. Kang, M. Temple-Smith, M. Kidd, S. Burns, L. Selvey, D. Meijer, S. Ennis, C. Thomson, N. Lane, J. Kaldor, R. Guy
Summary: This study found that smaller schools, special education schools, higher proportion of Indigenous students, lower attendance rates, remote locations, and lower socioeconomic areas are the factors most strongly associated with lower HPV vaccination initiation. Initiatives to support these schools may contribute most to reducing the variation in HPV vaccination uptake at a school-level.
Article
Allergy
Andrea A. Pappalardo, Molly A. Martin, Sally Weinstein, Oksana Pugach, Giselle S. Mosnaim
Summary: This study compares the effectiveness of community health workers and certified asthma educators in improving adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and inhaler technique. The findings suggest that community health worker services are associated with improved ICS adherence and inhaler technique.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Dulce J. Jimenez, Omar Gomez, Ruby Meraz, Amanda M. Pollitt, Linnea Evans, Naomi Lee, Matt Ignacio, Katherine Garcia, Richard Redondo, Floribella Redondo, Heather J. Williamson, Sabrina Oesterle, Sairam Parthasarathy, Samantha Sabo
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to and exacerbated existing health disparities among communities of color and vulnerable populations. In Arizona, focus groups were conducted with Community Health Workers to understand their experiences and perspectives on COVID-19, and to provide them with relevant training and educational materials. This collaboration between a CHW professional association and an academic research team facilitated the development of community-centered tools and resources to support CHW workforce capacity building.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lynn M. Yee, Brittney Williams, Hannah M. Green, Viridiana Carmona-Barrera, Laura Diaz, Ka'Derricka Davis, Michelle A. Kominiarek, Joe Feinglass, Chloe A. Zera, William A. Grobman
Summary: The postpartum period is a critical time for improving maternal health, but inadequate postpartum care, especially for individuals facing social and structural barriers, is common in the United States. Patient navigation is a patient-centered intervention that can help eliminate these barriers and promote comprehensive and timely access to health services.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sabuj Kanti Mistry, Elizabeth Harris, Mark Harris
Summary: This review synthesized evidence on the effectiveness of community health worker (CHW) navigation in primary care chronic disease management. The findings suggest that CHW navigation interventions can increase adherence to cancer screening and improve the use of primary care for chronic disease management. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the impact on clinical outcomes, patient experience, and cost-effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Prateek J. Shukla, Piper Sandel, Gurpreet Phull, Janine A. Rethy
Summary: This study aims to improve precision in asthma severity classification in the community healthcare setting through the development of an electronic asthma decision support tool. The launch of the tool in three academic community clinics resulted in a significant improvement in precision of asthma severity classification.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Patricia A. Valverde, Lisa Kennedy Sheldon, Sharon Gentry, Andrea J. Dwyer, Elba L. Saavedra Ferrer, Patrick D. Wightman
Summary: The impact of COVID-19 on cancer care was significant, but patient navigators demonstrated resilience and adaptability, playing a crucial role during the pandemic. Patient navigators provided supportive services and built trust by helping economically and socially marginalized patient populations.
Article
Oncology
Cristian Garcia-Alcaraz, Scott C. Roesch, Elizabeth Calhoun, Patrick Wightman, Prashanthinie Mohan, Tracy A. Battaglia, Rosa Cobian Aguilar, Patricia A. Valverde, Kristen J. Wells
Summary: The current study identified three distinct classes of cancer patient navigators and provided initial information on the determinants of navigator role retention, as well as making recommendations for future patient navigation research.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jess Wilhelm, Tanmay Mahapatra, Aritra Das, Sunil Sonthalia, Sridhar Srikantiah, Christine Galavotti, Hemant Shah, Andreea A. Creanga
Summary: The study evaluated changes in the coverage, intensity, and quality of home visits by frontline health workers (FHW) in the maternal and neonatal health improvement program in 8 districts of Bihar, India. Despite a decline in FHW visit quality, all three key practices improved during the TSU phase compared to the IFHI phase in the evaluated districts.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eduardo Perez, Yan Li, Jose A. Pagan
Summary: This study develops a decision-making model to evaluate key factors related to community-based health programs, aiming to help decision makers allocate resources more effectively.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Michal Burda, Alice Gojova, Barbora Grundelova, Marek Malina, Zuzana Stankova, Martin Stepnicka, Marek Vajgl
Summary: This article describes EVKA, a software system that supports intelligent decision-making for community workers. It utilizes computational intelligence techniques, particularly in fuzzy modeling, to provide decision-making support based on expert knowledge. Previously, community workers relied solely on personal experience, but EVKA offers a new approach to organizing and mobilizing communities.
SOCIAL SCIENCE COMPUTER REVIEW
(2023)