"I feel like my job is to give patients hope" - perspectives of Community Health Workers and employers in Iowa: a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a crucial role in extending health services, particularly for people who are medically underserved. Despite efforts to expand CHW programs nationally and in Iowa, challenges persist in defining their roles and responsibilities. Few studies have considered the perspectives of both CHWs and CHW employers simultaneously.

Methods

We conducted an exploratory sequential mixed-methods study, first involving key informant interviews with CHWs and employers, which then informed the development of surveys distributed to both populations. We performed thematic analysis of qualitative data and calculated descriptive statistics of quantitative data.

Results

Key informant interviews were conducted with five CHWs and five employers.

SUBMITTER: Sursely AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11910000 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature