142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

296709
Evaluating Community Health Advisor (CHA) Core Competencies: The CHA Core Competency Retrospective Pre/Post-test (CCCRP)

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Lachel Story, PhD, RN , Department of Systems Leadership and Health Outcomes, The University of Southern Mississippi, College of Nursing, Hattiesburg, MS
Yen To, PhD , Department of Educational Studies and Research, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Background: Health disparities are rampant across many areas of the country, affecting disadvantaged and vulnerable populations including those that are of racial minority underserved, underinsured, and uninsured groups. This widespread issue requires a comprehensive approach and stepping outside traditional health care providers to use community-based resources. Utilizing community health advisors (CHAs) are increasingly being used in community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches to solving health disparities; however, little attention has been placed on CHA training outcome evaluation including core competencies attainment.

Purpose: This study: (a) identified a common set of CHA core competencies, (b) generated a theoretically-based measure of CHA core competencies: Core Competencies: The CHA Retrospective Pre/Post-test (CCCRP) measure, and (c) explore psychometric properties of the CCCRP.

Methods: Concept synthesis was used to examine scientific literature to determine CHA core competencies and develop the items. Data were collected from 142 participants who had previously received CHA training. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted separately on pre-test and post-test data followed by an analysis of internal consistency for the CCCRP.

Results: Five CHA core competencies (leadership, translation, guidance, advocacy, and caring) were  incorporated in the CCCRP’s  24 items. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a two factor structure underlying the pre-test and post-test data with internal consistency estimates of .965 for the CCCRP.

Discussion: This study indicates that some CHA core competencies may be more interrelated than previously thought and there may be two major competencies instead of five. Additionally, this study supported the use of the CCCRP to evaluate core competency attainment after training.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify an instrument that can be used to measure community health worker core competencies. Identify an instrument that can evaluate the effectiveness of community health worker training prior to community engagement. Discuss the implications for Community Health Advisor Core Competency Retrospective Pre/Post-test (CCCRP) to improve health outcomes where people live.

Keyword(s): Community Health Workers and Promoters, Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My work with Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR), and specifically with Community Health Workers (CHWs), began nearly 14 years ago. I have successfully completed numerous funded CHW-related projects, including CHW training, evaluation, and intervention. I have published and presented this CHW work in a variety of settings and venues.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.