Hypertension

CHWs as Allies in Hypertension Self-Management and Medication Adherence in the United States, 2014

Prev Chronic Dis. 2016 Dec 29;13:E179. [Pubmed Abstract]

Allen CG, Brownstein JN, Satsangi A, Escoffery C

Introduction
Rates of hypertension control remain low among underserved populations in the United States; moreover, disparities in hypertension-related cardiovascular disease death are increasing. Community health workers (CHWs) can address barriers to hypertension control among underrepresented and diverse populations. We identify unique roles CHWs play in hypertension self-management and medication adherence.

Methods
In 2014, we conducted a mixed methods study with an online survey of 265 CHWs and 23 telephone interviews. The survey and interview guide contained questions about CHWs’ roles in hypertension self-management and hypertension medication adherence. We used descriptive statistics to analyze survey data and used inductive thematic analysis for the qualitative data.

Results
CHWs described working in partnership with patients and various health care…

The Effectiveness of CHWs in CVD Prevention in LMIC

Glob Heart. 2016 Dec 16. [Pubmed Abstract]

Khetan AK, Purushothaman R, Chami T, Hejjaji V, Madan Mohan SK, Josephson RA, Webel AR

Abstract
Community health workers (CHW) may be effective in tackling the burden of cardiovascular diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This review examines whether CHWs can improve the identification and control of cardiovascular risk factors in LMIC. We searched for studies that used CHW as a basis for cardiovascular risk factor management. Our search yielded 11 articles that targeted cardiovascular risk factor assessment, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, diet and physical activity. There were 4 randomized controlled trials, 3 quasi-experimental studies, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 1 retrospective analysis. Eight studies reported positive results with CHW being able to effectively screen for cardiovascular risk factors, decrease systolic blood pressure, decrease fasting blood glucose, increase quit rates of smoking, decrease…

Partners in Health: A Conceptual Framework for the Role of CHWs in Facilitating Patients’ Adoption of Healthy Behaviors

Am J Public Health. 2015 May;105(5):872-80. [Pubmed Abstract]

Partners in Health: A Conceptual Framework for the Role of Community Health Workers in Facilitating Patients’ Adoption of Healthy Behaviors
Katigbak C, Van Devanter N, Islam N, Trinh-Shevrin C

Abstract
We formulated a conceptual framework that begins to answer the national call to improve health care access, delivery, and quality by explaining the processes through which community health workers (CHWs) facilitate patients’ adoption of healthy behaviors. In September 2011 to January 2012, we conducted a qualitative study that triangulated multiple data sources: 26 in-depth interviews, training documents, and patient charts. CHWs served as partners in health to immigrant Filipinos with hypertension, leveraging their cultural congruence with intervention participants, employing interpersonal communication techniques to build trust and rapport, providing social support, and assisting with health behavior change. To…