Lei-Shih Chen1, Shixi Zhao2, Donaji Stelzig3,4, Shweta U Dhar5,6, Tanya Eble5, Yu-Chen Yeh7, Oi-Man Kwok7. 1. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, Texas. lacechen@tamu.edu. 2. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, Texas. 3. Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, Texas. 4. Medical Affairs, Texas Children's Health Plan, Houston, USA, Texas. 5. Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, Texas. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, Texas. 7. Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, Texas.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Genomics services have the potential to reduce incidence and mortality of diseases by providing individualized, family health history (FHH)-based prevention strategies to clients. These services may benefit from the involvement of community health workers (CHWs) in the provision of FHH-based genomics education and services, as CHWs are frontline public health workers and lay health educators, who share similar ethnicities, languages, socioeconomic statuses, and life experiences with the communities they serve. We developed, implemented, and evaluated the FHH-based genomics training program for CHWs. METHODS: This theory- and evidence-based FHH-focused genomics curriculum was developed by an interdisciplinary team. Full-day workshops in English and Spanish were delivered to 145 Texas CHWs (91.6% were Hispanic/black). Preworkshop, postworkshop, and 3-month follow-up data were collected. RESULTS: CHWs significantly improved their attitudes, intention, self-efficacy, and knowledge regarding adopting FHH-based genomics into their practice after the workshops. At 3-month follow-up, these scores remained higher, and there was a significant increase in CHWs' genomics practices. CONCLUSION: This FHH-based genomics training successfully educated Texas CHWs, and the outcomes were promising. Dissemination of training to CHWs in and outside of Texas is needed to promote better access to and delivery of personalized genomics services for the lay and underserved communities.
PURPOSE: Genomics services have the potential to reduce incidence and mortality of diseases by providing individualized, family health history (FHH)-based prevention strategies to clients. These services may benefit from the involvement of community health workers (CHWs) in the provision of FHH-based genomics education and services, as CHWs are frontline public health workers and lay health educators, who share similar ethnicities, languages, socioeconomic statuses, and life experiences with the communities they serve. We developed, implemented, and evaluated the FHH-based genomics training program for CHWs. METHODS: This theory- and evidence-based FHH-focused genomics curriculum was developed by an interdisciplinary team. Full-day workshops in English and Spanish were delivered to 145 Texas CHWs (91.6% were Hispanic/black). Preworkshop, postworkshop, and 3-month follow-up data were collected. RESULTS: CHWs significantly improved their attitudes, intention, self-efficacy, and knowledge regarding adopting FHH-based genomics into their practice after the workshops. At 3-month follow-up, these scores remained higher, and there was a significant increase in CHWs' genomics practices. CONCLUSION: This FHH-based genomics training successfully educated Texas CHWs, and the outcomes were promising. Dissemination of training to CHWs in and outside of Texas is needed to promote better access to and delivery of personalized genomics services for the lay and underserved communities.
Entities:
Keywords:
community health worker; education; family health history; genetics; genomics
Authors: Caitlin G Allen; Leslie Lenert; Kelly Hunt; Amy Jackson; Elissa Levin; Catherine Clinton; John T Clark; Kelli Garrison; Sam Gallegos; Karen Wager; Wenjun He; Katherine Sterba; Paula S Ramos; Cathy Melvin; Marvella Ford; Kenneth Catchpole; Lori McMahon; Daniel P Judge Journal: J Pers Med Date: 2022-07-27