Fletcher Jordan, Stewart M Kathryn, Fountain Sarah, Davis Anna Huff, Cottoms Naomi, Adams Becky, Adesoba Taiwo, Felix Holly, Chung Thomas
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
Department of Health Policy and Management, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., Little Rock, 72205, AR, USA.
J Community Health. 2022 Apr;47(2):298-305. doi: 10.1007/s10900-021-01043-7. Epub 2021 Nov 24.
Community health workers (CHWs) are critical to health equity efforts, but sustaining CHW programs is challenging. Understanding stakeholders' knowledge and attitudes about CHWs can inform strategies to advance this important workforce. The authors implemented an online survey of potential CHW employers to learn their perceptions of CHWs' roles, outcomes, and abilities to affect important health outcomes, and of key issues that affect CHW employment. The survey was disseminated statewide to a diverse group of stakeholders working in healthcare in Arkansas. A total of 151 surveys were collected and included in the analysis. The organizations represented by respondents primarily included state and local agencies and clinics, followed by healthcare systems. The main professional roles of survey respondents were administrators and clinicians, followed by healthcare staff. Over 90% of respondents agreed that CHWs have the ability to conduct community outreach, serve as a liaison, navigate health systems, provide coaching support, and participate in care coordination. Over 90% of healthcare administrators, clinicians, and policymakers agreed that standardized training and a clear definition of role and scope of practice are important to CHW employment. However, almost two-thirds of respondents' organizations were not employing CHWs, adding to previous research which has primarily focused on CHW employers' attitudes. Understanding and addressing attitudes of those who lack experience with CHWs can help to identify actions needed to promote and increase adoption of CHWs. The authors share how they are using these data to engage stakeholders in decision-making and adoption of CHWs in their state.
社区卫生工作者（CHWs）对于实现健康公平至关重要，但维持社区卫生工作者项目具有挑战性。了解利益相关者对社区卫生工作者的知识和态度可以为推进这一重要劳动力队伍建设的策略提供参考。作者对潜在的社区卫生工作者雇主进行了一项在线调查，以了解他们对社区卫生工作者的角色、成果以及影响重要健康成果的能力的看法，以及影响社区卫生工作者就业的关键问题。该调查在阿肯色州全州范围内分发给了从事医疗保健工作的不同利益相关者群体。共收集了151份调查问卷并纳入分析。受访者所代表的组织主要包括州和地方机构及诊所，其次是医疗保健系统。调查受访者的主要专业角色是管理人员和临床医生，其次是医护人员。超过90%的受访者同意社区卫生工作者有能力开展社区外展、担任联络人、协助患者在医疗系统中就医、提供指导支持以及参与护理协调。超过90%的医疗保健管理人员、临床医生和政策制定者同意标准化培训以及明确角色和执业范围的定义对社区卫生工作者的就业很重要。然而，近三分之二的受访者所在组织并未雇佣社区卫生工作者，这进一步补充了此前主要关注社区卫生工作者雇主态度的研究。了解并解决那些缺乏社区卫生工作者相关经验的人的态度问题，有助于确定促进和增加社区卫生工作者采用率所需采取的行动。作者分享了他们如何利用这些数据让利益相关者参与该州社区卫生工作者的决策和采用过程。
