Use of community health workers in research with ethnic minority women.
OBJECTIVE
To explore roles and effectiveness of community health workers in research with ethnic minority women in the United States (US).


METHODS
Medline (1966-2002) and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; 1982-2002) databases were used to locate published research studies on the use of community health workers with ethnic minority women in the US. Key words for searches were community health workers, community health aides, health promoters, and community workers.


RESULTS
An integrative analysis of 24 studies showed that, despite varying roles and functions, evidence indicates that community health workers are effective in increasing access to health services, increasing knowledge, and promoting behavior change among ethnic minority women. Other advantages of using community health workers are to provide social support and culturally competent, cost-effective care. Recommendations for future directions of research with community health workers and ethnic minority women include improved conceptualization of the community health worker role, theoretical frameworks for research designs, enhanced methods for evaluating effectiveness, and increased community involvement.
Andrews
Jeannette O
JO
Medical College of Georgia, Department of Nursing Science, EB 204, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. jandrews@mail.mcg.edu
Felton
Gwen
G
Wewers
Mary Ellen
ME
Heath
Janie
J
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D024382:Professional Role; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*