Pilot test of an assessment instrument for Latina community health advisors conducting an ETS intervention.

Community health advisors (CHAs), also known as promotores, are lay individuals in the community that others tend to look toward for advice and support. Studies incorporating CHAs are relatively rare, and CHAs have not been used in previous intervention studies to reduce environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. The present study pilot tested a CHA assessment instrument and examined the effects of promotora training on CHAs' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs concerning ETS reduction. Participants were 11 women recruited from the local community. CHA training produced changes on several psychosocial constructs. Anticipated outcomes regarding ETS reduction and emotional reactions related to volunteering in the community were more positive after training. Self-esteem and self-efficacy showed increases after training. Future research will investigate the relationship between the psychosocial characteristics measured in the assessment instrument and subsequent success implementing the ETS reduction intervention.