Table 2.
CHW involvement in phases of research and benefits across high CHW involvement studies.
| Author | Intervention focus | CHW term | Target population | Number of research phases with CHW participation | CHW experience & training | Benefits of CHW involvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arredondo et al. (21) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | promotora | U.S.-Mexico border region community | 9 | • experienced CHWs • walkability assessments/park audits • advocacy • developing physical activity programs • motivating behavioral change |
• CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Through their participation and scope of practice, CHWs increased potential for the intervention's translation to practice or sustainability. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Bush et al. (22) | Environmental Health | promotora | Latino forest workers | 8 | • core competencies • popular education • communication • hazards of forest work • employer responsibilities • resources • curriculum delivery |
• CHWs ensured that research approach considered broader community context. • CHWs were able to access broader social/kin networks for recruitment. • CHWs negotiate the involvement of structurally vulnerable communities in research. • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Cramer et al. (23) | Maternal & Child Health | CHW | pregnant women | 5 | • experienced CHWs • prenatal health coaching |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. |
| Furman et al. (24) | Maternal & Child Health | CHW | African American mothers | 5 | • experienced CHWs • no other training mentioned |
• Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Harvey et al. (25) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | CHW | African American and Latina women | 6 | • core competencies • hypertension and type 2 diabetes • disease screening processes • diabetes self-management • curriculum delivery • data collection procedures |
• CHWs ensured research approach considered broader community context. • Through their participation and scope of practice, CHWs increased potential for the intervention's translation to practice or sustainability. |
| Ingram et al. (26) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | promotora | Mexican-American moms in border region | 8 | • experienced CHWs • core competencies training (upon hire) |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • CHWs validated study findings on the basis of their lived experiences. • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community/organizations rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. |
| Ingram et al. (27) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | promotora | Latinos in the border region | 7 | • experienced CHWs • community advocacy |
• CHW connection to community resources ensured maximized participant benefit from the intervention. • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community/organizations rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. |
| Islam et al. (28) | Chronic disease | CHW | Bangladeshi adults with T2DM | 6 | • CHW training not detailed | • CHWs ensured that research approach considered broader community context. • CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • CHW positionality enhances retention and follow-up. • CHW connection to community resources maximized participant benefit from the intervention. |
| Islam et al. (29) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | CHW | Korean adults at risk for diabetes | 6 | • core competencies • study protocol • curriculum delivery • mental health • motivational interviewing |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • CHW positionality enhances retention and follow-up. • CHW connection to community. resources maximized participant benefit from the intervention. |
| Islam et al. (30) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | CHW | Sikh adults at risk for diabetes | 7 | • core competencies • study protocol and methods • curriculum delivery • mental health • motivational interviewing • basic action planning |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • CHW positionality enhances retention and follow-up. • CHW connection to community resources maximized participant benefit from the intervention. |
| Kutcher et al. (31) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | CHW | Hispanic communities | 8 | • experienced CHWs • advocacy training • CHWs roles in coalitions • developing community action plans • community assessment strategies |
• CHWs brought community perspectives and voices to research process. • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community/organizations rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Marín et al. (32) | Environmental Health | promotora | Latino poultry workers | 5 | • core competencies • research principles • curriculum delivery • study protocol and methods |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • CHWs negotiate the involvement of structurally vulnerable communities in research. • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Marrone et al. (33) | Chronic disease | CHW | Latino adults with hearing loss | 6 | • experienced CHWs • hearing loss • communicating with individuals/families with hearing loss |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community/organizations rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. |
| Messias et al. (15) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | promotora | Mexican-origin women | 5 | • core competencies • curriculum delivery • research principles • data collection procedures |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • CHWs were able to access broader kin/social networks for recruitment. • CHW positionality enhances retention and follow-up. • CHWs brought community perspectives and voices to research process. • CHW connection to community resources ensured maximized participant benefit from the intervention. |
| Michael et al. (34) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | CHW | Latino and African American adults | 7 | • core competencies • research principles • health promotion and disease prevention • study protocol and methods |
• CHWs brought community perspectives and voices to research process. • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Minkler et al. (35) | Environmental Health | promotora | residents of Old Town National City | 7 | • experienced CHWs • advocacy training • land use, air quality, and energy |
• CHWs brought community perspectives and voices to research process. • CHWs validated study findings on the basis of their lived experiences. • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community/organizations rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Moore et al. (36) | Substance Use | promotora | Latino day laborers | 5 | • experienced CHWs • study protocol and methods, • curriculum delivery |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention • CHWs were able to access broader kin/social networks for recruitment. • CHWs negotiate the involvement of structurally vulnerable communities in research. • CHW positionality enhances retention and follow-up. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community/organizations rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. |
| Nicolaidis et al. (37) | Mental health | promotora | Latina IPV survivors | 7 | • experienced CHWs • mental health • motivational interviewing |
• CHW connection to community resources ensured maximized participant benefit from the intervention. |
| Rios-Ellis et al. (38) | Maternal & Child Health | promotores | Latina mothers | 5 | • study protocol and methods • maternal-child health educational content |
• CHW connection to community resources ensured maximized participant benefit from the intervention. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Rios-Ellis et al. (39) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | promotores | Latino families | 5 | • core competencies • participant outreach • curriculum delivery • data collection procedures • basic evaluation methods |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention |
| Schwartz et al. (40) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | promotores | Hispanic families in SW Idaho | 5 | • training not described | • CHWs were able to access broader social/kin networks for recruitment. |
| Simonsen et al. (41) | Disease Prevention & Promotion | CHW “community wellness coaches” | women of color | 6 | • motivational interviewing • gender norms • obesity management • data collection procedures |
• CHWs negotiate the involvement of structurally vulnerable communities in research. • Through their participation and scope of practice, CHWs increased potential for the intervention's translation to practice or sustainability • CHWs encourage individual/community advocacy for sustained systems/environmental change. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. |
| Suarez et al. (42) | Substance Use | promotores | Latino smokers | 6 | • experienced CHWs • data collection procedures • leadership/organization/interpersonal relationships∙ smoking dependence and cessation • cultural competence • curriculum delivery |
• CHW participation ensured community acceptability of the intervention. • CHW positionality enhances retention and follow-up. • Increased capacity of CHWs creates a lasting community resource. • Research leverages experienced CHWs embedded within community/organizations rather than hiring new CHWs specifically for research. |
CHW, community health worker; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; IPV, intimate partner violence; SW, southwest.