Effectiveness of a community health worker cardiovascular risk reduction program in public health and health care settings

M.J. Krantz, S.M. Coronel, E.M. Whitley, R. Dale, J. Yost and R.O. Estacio

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 1, e19-e27

Abstract: Objectives. We evaluated whether a program to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) with community health workers (CHWs) would improve CHD risk in public health and health care settings. Methods. The CHWs provided point-of-service screening, education, and care coordination to residents in 34 primarily rural Colorado counties. The CHWs utilized motivational interviewing and navigated those at risk for CHD into medical care and lifestyle resources. A software application generated a real-time 10-year Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and guideline-based health recommendations while supporting longitudinal caseload tracking. We used multiple linear regression analysis to determine factors associated with changes in FRS. Results. From 2010 to 2011, among 4743 participants at risk for CHD, 53.5% received medical or lifestyle referrals and 698 were retested 3 or more months after screening. We observed statistically significant improvements in diet, weight, blood pressure, lipids, and FRS with the greatest effects among those with uncontrolled risk factors. Successful phone interaction by the CHW led to lower FRS at retests (P = .04). Conclusions. A CHW-based program within public health and health care settings improved CHD risk. Further exploration of factors related to improved outcomes is needed. Copyright © 2012 by the American Public Health Association®.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; aged; article; cohort analysis; community care; coronary artery disease; female; follow up; health auxiliary; health care quality; health promotion; human; lifestyle; male; mass screening; methodology; middle aged; primary health care; risk factor; risk reduction; rural population; United States, Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Colorado; Community Health Services; Community Health Workers; Coronary Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Promotion; Humans; Life Style; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care; Program Evaluation; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Rural Population; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.301068_8

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301068

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