220570 Exploring evaluation findings from the Getting on Target with Community Health Advisors project

Monday, November 8, 2010

Susan Mayfield-Johnson, PhD, MPH, CHES , Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Laura Hall Downey, DrPH , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Charkarra Anderson-Lewis, PhD , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Lachel Story, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Rebekah Young, MPH, CHES , Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Pearlean Day, MEd , Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Arnecca Byrd, MPH, MS , Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Residents of the Mississippi Delta suffer from chronic diseases at a disproportionately higher rate than other regions of the country. High morbidity and mortality rates from chronic diseases are due in part to barriers to health services, including insufficient numbers of medical professionals. In an effort to meet the health care needs of disadvantaged populations, Community Health Advisors (CHAs) increasingly bridge the gap between the consumer and a limited number of providers. In 2008, the Getting on Target with Community Health Advisor (GOTCHA) project began training community members in 10 Delta counties on stroke prevention and early detection methods. GOTCHA training is comprised of two segments: comprehensive core skills training and training in chronic disease modules (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, nutrition, stress management, and increasing physical activity). Unlike many CHA projects, GOTCHA is conducting rigorous process and impact evaluation. Qualitative and quantitative methods are being employed to evaluate GOTCHA training on participant's capacity for providing health services to their community. Findings presented in this session will describe how the training impacted CHAs' personal health behaviors, CHAs' stroke prevention knowledge and skills to be used in their community, as well as other factors, such as CHAs' sense of empowerment. A description will also be provided on process evaluation strategies used to enhance trainings in the GOTCHA project. An overview of the GOTCHA training, as well as findings from the project, will be of interest and relevance to other professionals exploring innovative approaches to meeting health care needs in their community.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the mixed methods evaluation strategies for the Getting on Target with Community Health Advisors project. 2. Discuss how the training design of comprehensive core skill development and chronic disease modules impacted CHAs’ personal health behaviors in the Mississippi Delta.

Keywords: Community Health Advisor, Rural Communities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principle Investigator for the project.
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.