585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care

Objectives/Goals: Community health workers (CHWs) are links between the community and healthcare. As primary care (PC) expands to address social drivers of health, CHWs are becoming part of PC teams, yet how the two integrate is not well understood. Using an input-mechanism-outcome (IMO) model, this...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alexandria Blackr, Gaetano Lotrecchiano, Maria Juarez, Reyes, Ronald Shope, Noha Aboelata, Lavette King, Brianna Wells
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124011531/type/journal_article
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849393744561831936
author Alexandria Blackr
Gaetano Lotrecchiano
Maria Juarez
Reyes
Ronald Shope
Noha Aboelata
Lavette King
Brianna Wells
author_facet Alexandria Blackr
Gaetano Lotrecchiano
Maria Juarez
Reyes
Ronald Shope
Noha Aboelata
Lavette King
Brianna Wells
author_sort Alexandria Blackr
collection DOAJ
description Objectives/Goals: Community health workers (CHWs) are links between the community and healthcare. As primary care (PC) expands to address social drivers of health, CHWs are becoming part of PC teams, yet how the two integrate is not well understood. Using an input-mechanism-outcome (IMO) model, this research seeks to develop a model to expand CHW-PC integration efforts. Methods/Study Population: Participants were recruited from Roots Community Health Center (Roots), a CHC serving historically marginalized communities, that has successfully integrated a CHW role, Roots Health Navigators (RHNs), into PC services. The preliminary conceptual framework for this study was guided by an overarching IMO model and informed by social identity theory, team science, and the interprofessional care literature. A mixed methods study was conducted in three phases: 1) cross-sectional survey, 2) semi-structured interviews, and 3) model development. The survey identified team dynamics such as communication, trust, and shared understanding, and interviews explored how these collaborative teaming mechanisms take shape. Findings were merged into a final model of CHW-PC integration that was reviewed by Roots leaders. Results/Anticipated Results: Survey results (n  =  25) highlighted highly rated team dynamics including shared understanding and acting and feeling like a team. Qualitative findings (n  =  10) described how integration occurred through complex interactions that were community-responsive and collectively reduced burnout among the team. Joint findings noted the importance of RHNs to continuity of care, building trust, and enhancing PC team effectiveness. Findings informed the development of a model of CHW-PC integration. This expanded on the preliminary conceptual framework by highlighting the dynamic relationship between mechanisms, processes, and team emergent states, as well as providing evidence to support feedback loops between inputs, mechanisms, and outcomes with overarching influence from the contextual setting. Discussion/Significance of Impact: With a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of CHW-PC integration, findings informed the development of a model that can support other communities to replicate this approach to care and address critical patient needs. Teaming factors that sustain CHW-PC integration may be transferrable to other care teams integrating nontraditional roles.
format Article
id doaj-art-46d418b3168c48809dba7302fdcd79bf
institution Kabale University
issn 2059-8661
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
spelling doaj-art-46d418b3168c48809dba7302fdcd79bf2025-08-20T03:40:18ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Clinical and Translational Science2059-86612025-04-01917217210.1017/cts.2024.1153585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary careAlexandria Blackr0Gaetano Lotrecchiano1Maria Juarez2 Reyes3Ronald Shope4Noha Aboelata5Lavette King6Brianna Wells7Stanford UniversityThe George Washington UniversityThe George Washington UniversityStanford UniversityThe George Washington UniversityRoots Community Health CenterRoots Community Health CenterRoots Community Health CenterObjectives/Goals: Community health workers (CHWs) are links between the community and healthcare. As primary care (PC) expands to address social drivers of health, CHWs are becoming part of PC teams, yet how the two integrate is not well understood. Using an input-mechanism-outcome (IMO) model, this research seeks to develop a model to expand CHW-PC integration efforts. Methods/Study Population: Participants were recruited from Roots Community Health Center (Roots), a CHC serving historically marginalized communities, that has successfully integrated a CHW role, Roots Health Navigators (RHNs), into PC services. The preliminary conceptual framework for this study was guided by an overarching IMO model and informed by social identity theory, team science, and the interprofessional care literature. A mixed methods study was conducted in three phases: 1) cross-sectional survey, 2) semi-structured interviews, and 3) model development. The survey identified team dynamics such as communication, trust, and shared understanding, and interviews explored how these collaborative teaming mechanisms take shape. Findings were merged into a final model of CHW-PC integration that was reviewed by Roots leaders. Results/Anticipated Results: Survey results (n  =  25) highlighted highly rated team dynamics including shared understanding and acting and feeling like a team. Qualitative findings (n  =  10) described how integration occurred through complex interactions that were community-responsive and collectively reduced burnout among the team. Joint findings noted the importance of RHNs to continuity of care, building trust, and enhancing PC team effectiveness. Findings informed the development of a model of CHW-PC integration. This expanded on the preliminary conceptual framework by highlighting the dynamic relationship between mechanisms, processes, and team emergent states, as well as providing evidence to support feedback loops between inputs, mechanisms, and outcomes with overarching influence from the contextual setting. Discussion/Significance of Impact: With a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of CHW-PC integration, findings informed the development of a model that can support other communities to replicate this approach to care and address critical patient needs. Teaming factors that sustain CHW-PC integration may be transferrable to other care teams integrating nontraditional roles.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124011531/type/journal_article
spellingShingle Alexandria Blackr
Gaetano Lotrecchiano
Maria Juarez
Reyes
Ronald Shope
Noha Aboelata
Lavette King
Brianna Wells
585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care
Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
title 585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care
title_full 585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care
title_fullStr 585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care
title_full_unstemmed 585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care
title_short 585 An input-mechanism-outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care
title_sort 585 an input mechanism outcome model to support integration of community health workers in primary care
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124011531/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT alexandriablackr 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare
AT gaetanolotrecchiano 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare
AT mariajuarez 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare
AT reyes 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare
AT ronaldshope 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare
AT nohaaboelata 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare
AT lavetteking 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare
AT briannawells 585aninputmechanismoutcomemodeltosupportintegrationofcommunityhealthworkersinprimarycare