title: Understanding the success of promotoras in increasing chronic diseases screening.
abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study was to elicit information on why a promotora (or, community health worker (CHW)) increased adherence to chronic disease screening among women along the U.S.-Mexico border. After completion of the intervention, women and clinic staff who participated in the promotora phase of a randomized, controlled study answered structured, open-ended questionnaires. Clinicians from two non-participating clinics were also interviewed. Content analysis found that the promotora's roles included health education and the facilitation of routine and follow-up care. Clients appreciated the promotora's socio-cultural characteristics, as well as her personal skills and qualities, and described her as a trained, natural helper whose personalized support removed barriers to health care and helped women to take care of themselves. Most clinicians recommended working with a CHW to increase adherence to chronic disease prevention practices. A CHW can play a crucial role on a health care team and interventions should tap into this resource.
authors.affiliation: Southwest Center for Community Health Promotion, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, USA. kerstin@u.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Kerstin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Reinschmidt
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: M Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lacy-Martínez
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guernsey de Zapien
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meister
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008800:Mexico; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*