Patients' Perspectives on the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Impact of a Community Health Worker Program: A Qualitative Study
Wei Chang, May Oo, Adriana Rojas, April Joy Damian
Abstract
Purpose: To examine patients' perceptions of the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a safety net-based community health worker (CHW) program. Methods: Semistructured interviews with patient participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (n=13) were analyzed using a traditional text analysis method based on grounded theory. Results: This study highlights that the CHW program can improve satisfaction in accessing health services and community resources, and overall health outcomes of patients in safety net practices. Conclusion: Patients' overall positive perception of the CHW program suggests that the intervention may be a viable solution to address the health and social needs of patients in safety net settings.