Kenneth S Babamoto, PharmD, MPH¹, Lourdes Rangel², Vicki J Karlan, MPH³, Lucy Garcia, RN, BSN⁴, Angela J. Camilleri, MPH, MA¹, Eileen Crowley¹, Carlos N. Casas-Zaragosa, MD⁴, Miguel Trevino², and Julia D Portale, MPH, MBA¹. (1) Community Health, Pfizer Health Solutions, 2400 Broadway, Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA 90404, 310-586-2508, ken.babamoto@pfizer.com, (2) Gateway Community Health Center, 2309 Saunders, Laredo, TX 78044, (3) Outcomes and Analytics, Pfizer Health Solutions, 2400 Broadway, Suite 500, Santa Monica, CA 90404, (4) Gateway Community Health Centers, Inc., 2309 Saunders, Laredo, TX 78044

Community health workers (CHWs), or promotores, are valuable members of the healthcare team, providing varied services such as outreach, health promotion, and education in a range of settings from streets to clinics, community centers, and homes. Their unique training and skills are becoming increasingly recognized as critical assets to support health care delivery. Participating as a member of the healthcare research team provides an opportunity for CHWs to further expand their roles. Because of their community-based knowledge, cultural awareness and language skills, CHWs can help serve as a bridge in recruiting minorities to take part in research. This is most important among Hispanics, where a significant health disparity exists in current clinical research participation. The strong relationship between CHWs and providers, patients, families, and the community builds trust, allowing CHWs to help recruit eligible subjects, dispel fears about research, explain research goals, objectives and consent in a familiar language and culturally-appropriate manner, answer questions, and serve as a key member of the research team. Besides enrollment responsibilities, CHWs are able to perform assessments, document activities, conduct process evaluations, complete data collection and provide feedback to investigators.

This paper describes the role of a CHW who oversees and participates in the Amigos en Salud project. This two-year research study will enroll over 540 patients, evaluating how CHWs provide diabetes and depression education and management to Hispanic patients in a clinic-based setting located in Laredo, TX. The CHW will describe research responsibilities, training, and a perspective on expanding the traditional CHW role.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the traditional role of CHWs in healthcare
• List 5 responsibilities that CHWs can contribute to as part of a research study
• Describe 3 key barriers that have limited minority populations to participate in healthcare research

Keywords: Research, Hispanic

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment