Date of Award
Spring 6-6-2024
Scholarly Projects
Projects: SPU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Faculty Chair
Bomin Shim
Faculty Reader
Bomin Shim
Faculty Reader
Carrie Fry
Executive Summary
Title: Improving Community Health Workers’ COVID-19 Knowledge and Preparedness Through an Online Training Module
Background and Significance: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has adversely impacted vulnerable communities, bringing to surface existing health disparities in minority groups. Socioeconomic factors faced by many minority groups contributed to increased reported cases, hospitalization rates, and death rates. Since community health workers are trusted members of the community that serve as a direct link to healthcare, they are an evidence-based solution for communities to overcome challenges and barriers of the pandemic (Hernandez-Salinas et al., 2022; McKenna et al., 2019; Palmer-Wackerly et al., 2019). Effectively preparing community health workers to help vulnerable communities navigate through COVID-19 will reduce health disparities in minority groups.
Problem/Purpose: Community health workers play a significant role in bridging the gap between vulnerable communities and the resources they need to get through the pandemic. Training targeted specifically towards community health workers is needed to support the current and emerging challenges related to COVID-19. The purpose of this project was to increase knowledge about COVID-19 and preparedness for community health workers at a community health clinic serving the international population in the Pacific Northwest region through an online education module.
Methods: This project used a quasi-experimental post-test only design including a post survey to evaluate the knowledge and preparedness of community health workers after the intervention. The intervention was delivered through a Zoom webinar, approximately three hours in length. The training included mixed methods of content delivery. The content was developed with full consideration of what kinds of disparities minority groups face. It aimed to reeducate about COVID-19 and emphasize the importance of continuous prevention, vaccination, and adequate access to healthcare. The discussions and practice scenarios equipped the participants to then relay the knowledge gained and prepare them to empower the community to actively seek vaccination and access to needed resources. The goal of the post survey was to see if there was an increase in knowledge and preparedness through the webinar.
Results/Outcomes: The goal of the project to increase community health workers’ COVID-19 knowledge and preparedness through the webinar was met. The webinar had 94 participants, of which 40 stayed for the entire webinar. A total of 23 participants filled out the post survey. Approximately 64% of the surveyors answered COVID-19 knowledge questions correctly; 81% perceived an increase in level of knowledge about COVID-19 and confidence talking with patients/clients about vaccinations; 69% perceived an increase in confidence talking with patients/clients about prevention; 94% perceived an increase in confidence looking up updated information. 93% perceived an increase in confidence correcting misinformation about COVID-19. 100% answered that they can apply what they learned at this workshop.
Sustainability: The online training was recorded and posted to an internal website for all community health workers to view. When onboarding new workers to the organization, they will be required to watch the webinar. The training will be provided annually with updated information about COVID-19 and modified based on feedback obtained.
Implications: Community health workers play a significant role in helping communities navigate challenges due to COVID-19 and connecting them to resources. A webinar educating community health workers about COVID-19 knowledge and preparing them to talk with community members about COVID-19 can be effective in increasing their knowledge and preparedness. The results of this project will impact the way community health workers help ethnic minority patients who are at a higher risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 due to their socioeconomic factors.
References
Hernandez-Salinas, C., Marsiglia, F. F., Oh, H., Campos, A. P., & Rosa, K. (2022). Community health workers as puentes/bridges to increase COVID-19 health equity in Latinx communities of the Southwest U.S. Journal of Community Health, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-022-01182-5
McKenna, P., Babughirana, G., Amponsah, M., Egoeh, S. G., Banura, E., Kanwagi, R., & Gray, B. (2019). Mobile training and support (MOTS) service—using technology to increase Ebola preparedness of remotely-located community health workers (CHWs) in Sierra Leone. mHealth, 5(35). https://doi.org/10.21037/mhealth.2019.09.03
Palmer-Wackerly, A. L., Chaidez, V., Wayment, C., Baker, J., Adams, A., & Wheeler, L. A. (2019). Listening to the voices of community health workers: A multilevel, culture-centered approach to overcoming structural barriers in U.S. Latinx communities. Qualitative Health Research, 30(3), 423–436. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732319855963
Recommended Citation
Song, Gaeun, "Improving Community Health Workers’ COVID-19 Knowledge and Preparedness Through an Online Training Module" (2024). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects. 74.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/shs_dnp/74