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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

M. Kate Stewart, MD, MPH¹, Holly C. Felix, PhD¹, Glen Mays, PhD, MPH¹, Naomi Cottoms², Mabel Harris², and Petrina Otey². (1) Dept. of Health Policy & Management, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, #820, Little Rock, AR 72205, 501-526-6625, stewartmaryk@uams.edu, (2) Tri-Country Rural Health Network, 419 Cherry Street, Helena, AR 72342

A large volume of research has been published over the past several decades documenting the positive impact of community health workers (CHWs) on access and utilization; health behaviors; and health status of the populations they serve. However, there continues to be a dearth of evidence documenting the cost-effectiveness of these important interventions. This well-recognized gap has become more noticeable as advocates have sought to sustain these programs, leading to calls for program managers to “make the business case” for CHWs. A number of programmatic and methodological challenges face those that would answer this call. Some of these challenges include the need for: 1) effective communication with the intended audience of cost analysis findings; 2) clarity of purpose in program design, mechanism of action, and intended effect; 3) knowledge of the program components, costs and outcomes of alternative approaches to which the CHW program will be compared; 4) the feasibility of the timeframe in which program effect and cost savings may be expected to occur; 5) identification of appropriate measures of cost and program impact; 6) methods for valuing non-monetary outcomes of the program (e.g. independence, self-efficacy, quality of life); and 7) access to reasonably accurate data. The presenter will explain these issues and give illustrative examples of how one might think about and work through these challenges.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Explain why it’s important to document cost savings of CHW programs;
• Discuss at least three challenges that must be addressed in making the business case for CHW programs; and
• Describe an example of how to work through these challenges.

Keywords: Evaluation, Community Health Promoters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation