Community clinic-based lifestyle change for prevention of metabolic syndrome: Rationale, design and methods of the 'Vida Sana/healthy life' program

Educational Processes for Health and Disease Self-Management in Public Health: A Systematic Review

This study systematically reviewed processes and educational programs for self-management of health and diseases that are the subject of public health attention. This systematic review of the literature (SRL) is relevant to recognizing the characteristics of the educational processes in self-managing chronic diseases in contexts where technology did not play a significant role. Following the PRISMA protocol, the authors independently reviewed full-text articles from several databases using the following criteria: (1) intervention studies evaluating the effects of self-management health programs; (2) educational process of disease self-management; (3) studies that included at least one control group, and (4) peer-reviewed studies. In addition, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network measurement tool was used to assess the risk of bias in each trial. In the final sample, 38 articles were included. The findings regarding health education methods of self-care, using community-based care and technological tools, are considered fundamental. Among the conclusions, the relevance of the pedagogy that health education processes demand improvement in post-pandemic program effectiveness stands out.

Recruitment, Training, and Roles of the Bilingual, Bicultural Navegantes: Developing a Specialized Workforce of Community Health Workers to Serve a Low-Income, Spanish-Speaking Population in Rhode Island

Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic (CEHC) employs Navegantes, who are specially-trained bilingual Community Health Workers (CHW), as key team members who improve the ability of the clinic to provide care for and improve the health status of a large population of uninsured Spanish-speaking patients in Providence, Rhode Island. Given the growing demand for CHWs at the clinic and in the broader healthcare sector in the state, CEHC developed the Advanced Navegante Training Program (ANTP). The ANTP prepares community members to become certified CHWs who are equipped to provide patient navigation and lifestyle coaching as well as professional medical interpretation services. The ANTP is developed and taught by CEHC Navegantes who themselves are bilingual and bicultural peers of trainees as well as the population that CEHC serves. Upon graduation, ANTP trainees have been able to attain higher-paying and fulfilling careers in a range of healthcare and other community settings. The ANTP offers a low-cost, community-based model for training CHWs who are uniquely prepared to promote health and well-being among medically underserved patients.

Clinical outcomes of a community clinic-based lifestyle change program for prevention and management of metabolic syndrome: Results of the 'Vida Sana/Healthy Life' program

Introduction

As US Hispanic populations are at higher risk than non-Hispanics for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes targeted interventions are clearly needed. This paper presents the four years results of the Vida Sana Program (VSP), which was developed and is implemented by a small clinic serving mostly Spanish-speaking, limited literacy population.

Methods

The eight-week course of interactive two-hour sessions taught by Navegantes, bilingual/cultural community health workers, was delivered to participants with hypertension, or high lipids, BMI, waist circumference, glucose or hemoglobin A1C (A1C). Measures, collected by Navegantes and clinic nurses, included blood chemistries, blood pressure, anthropometry, and an assessment of healthy food knowledge.

Results

Most participants (67%) were female, Hispanic (95%), and all were 18 to 70 years of age. At baseline, close to half of participants were obese (48%), had high waist circumference (53%), or elevated A1C (52%), or fasting blood glucose (57%). About one third had high blood pressure (29%) or serum cholesterol (35%), and 22% scored low on the knowledge assessment. After the intervention, participants decreased in weight (-1.0 lb), BMI (-0.2 kg/m2), WC (-0.4 inches), and cholesterol (-3.5 mg/dl, all p<0.001). Systolic blood pressure decreased (-1.7 mm Hg, p<0.001), and the knowledge score increased (6.8 percent, p<0.001).

Discussion

VSP shows promising improvements in metabolic outcomes, similar to other programs with longer duration or higher intensity interventions. VSP demonstrates an important model for successful community-connected interventions.