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. 2024 Nov 6:17:1179173X241272369.
doi: 10.1177/1179173X241272369. eCollection 2024.

How Community Health Workers can Address Tobacco Dependence of High-Risk patients: A Qualitative Analysis of the Unique Training Needs of Community Health Workers

Clarissa Huard  1 , Enrique Villacis Alvarez  1 , Anna Veluz-Wilkins  1 , Andres Mauricio Garcia Sierra  1 , Marcia Tan  1
Affiliations

How Community Health Workers can Address Tobacco Dependence of High-Risk patients: A Qualitative Analysis of the Unique Training Needs of Community Health Workers

Clarissa Huard et al. Tob Use Insights. .

Abstract

Introduction: Communities with low socioeconomic status have disproportionately high rates of tobacco use, and community health workers (CHWs) have an increasing role in delivering tobacco cessation interventions. However, existing tobacco cessation trainings are not appropriate for the CHW model of care. The aim of this study was to identify training needs of CHWs to develop a tailored tobacco cessation curriculum to help them effectively serve their high-risk patients. Incorporating results of a previously conducted needs assessment survey, we developed a preliminary outline of a tobacco cessation training curriculum that was specific to the CHW experience.

Methods: Participants (N = 14) discussed their impressions of (a) the training content, (b) the unique needs of patients seen by CHWs, and (c) tailoring to the CHW care model. We conducted virtual qualitative interviews and focus groups with stakeholders (i.e., managers/directors of CHW programs) and CHWs, respectively, to obtain feedback on training, as well as a sample 2-hour training schedule and curriculum. Two independent coders analyzed the data using the Framework method.

Results: Two overarching themes emerged: the need for strategies to (a) personalize treatment to each high-risk patient and (b) increase and maintain patient motivation. CHWs also reported the need for specific language to engage patients who were not ready to quit.

Conclusion: A tailored training might focus on motivational interviewing, including how to personalize treatment to the patient's experiences, and role-playing scenarios with scenes on how to flexibly support patients who are overburdened and unmotivated.

Keywords: Tobacco cessation; community health worker; health disparities; motivational interviewing; tobacco cessation interventions; tobacco cessation training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Community Health Worker (CHW) Model of Care in the context of smoking cessation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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