Open AccessPartners in Health: A Conceptual Framework for the Role of Community Health Workers in Facilitating Patients' Adoption of Healthy Behaviors
Author(s) -
Carina Katigbak,
Nancy Van Devanter,
Nadia Islam,
Chau TrinhShevrin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2014.302411
Subject(s) - interpersonal communication , psychological intervention , conceptual framework , community health workers , qualitative research , intervention (counseling) , conceptual model , nursing , psychology , interpersonal relationship , community health , the conceptual framework , applied psychology , medicine , public health , health services , social psychology , environmental health , sociology , population , social science , philosophy , art , epistemology , performance art , art history
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 drive the field forward, this work can be expanded with framework testing that may influence future CHW training and interventions.