title: Evaluating the training of Filipino American community health advisors to disseminate colorectal cancer screening.
abstract: Community health advisor-led interventions are associated with improved health promotion behaviors, such as cancer screening, but the process of training community health advisors is rarely described and evaluated. We trained 91 Filipino Americans from 19 organizations to conduct small-group sessions with members of their organizations to promote colorectal cancer screening. Community health advisors completed brief pre- and post-training surveys that included knowledge of colorectal cancer screening guidelines (four items), perceived self-efficacy of performing specific tasks (15-item scale, Cronbach's alpha > 0.90) and satisfaction with the training itself (five items). Community health advisors had high levels of knowledge and self-efficacy at pre-training, but levels increased significantly immediately after the 6-h training (percent of knowledge items answered correctly: 63-94 %; self-efficacy: 8.2-8.9 on a 10 point scale, both p < 0.001). Correlates of self-efficacy at pre- and post-test were high educational attainment, health care background, high level of participation in the organization, being perceived by others as a leader, and frequent participation in research activities in the past. Consistent evaluation measuring similar constructs across studies may help to standardize the quality of the training, and may improve the implementation of community health advisor-led programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. amaxwell@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Annette E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Leda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Danao
authors.forename: Reggie T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Cayetano
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Crespi
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bastani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult