Developing a diabetes prevention education program for community health care workers in Thailand: translation of the knowledge to at-risk people

Characteristics and Outcomes of Community Health Worker Training to Improve the Prevention and Control of Cardiometabolic Diseases in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Community health workers (CHWs) play an important role in controlling non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this review was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of CHW training programs that focused on the prevention and control of cardiometabolic diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Medline, CINAHL Complete, Academic Search Complete, Directory of Open Access Journal, ScienceDirect, ERIC, Gale Academic, and OneFile). Studies that described the training programs used to train CHWs for prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases and type2 diabetes mellitus in LMICs. Only studies that evaluated the outcomes of training programs in at least one of the 4 levels of Kirkpatrick’s training evaluation model were included in the review. CHWs who underwent training focused on the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We summarized the resulting evidence using qualitative synthesis through a narrative review. Training outcomes were assessed in relation to (1) CHW reactions to training, their degree of learning, and their behaviors following training, and (2) changes in biochemical and anthropometric indicators in target populations following the CHW program implementation. PROSPERO (CRD42020162116). Thirty-two studies were included. Methods used to train CHWs included: face-to-face lectures, interactive group activities, and blended teaching with online support. Training focused on identifying people with elevated risk of cardiometabolic diseases and their risk factors as well as supporting people to adopt healthy lifestyles. Many studies that utilized trained CHWs did not publish CHW training methods and evaluations, and therefore could not be included in this study. Training programs resulted in an increase in knowledge and skills among CHWs demonstrating that there are certain activities that can be shifted to CHWs following training.

Community-based educational interventions for prevention of type II diabetes: a global systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Our objective was to estimate the change in community-based education interventions throughout the world that may effectuate in risk parameters of type II diabetes (T2D), including the diabetes incidence rate, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

METHODS

A comprehensive search for globally eligible studies was conducted on PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, CINAHL nursing & allied health source, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, conference proceedings, and reference lists. Data were extracted using JBI standardized data extraction tool. The primary outcome variables were diabetes incidence rate, fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (s/d BP). Random-effects meta-analysis and sub-group analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Nineteen interventional studies were included in the review, and ten studies were pooled in the meta-analysis (n = 16,106, mean age = 41.5 years). The incidence rate of T2D was reported in three trials, within which the risk of developing T2D was reduced by 54.0% in favor of community-based educational interventions, (RR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.38-0.75; p < 0.001). In eleven (n = 11,587) and six (n = 6416) studies, the pooled mean differences were - 0.33 (95% CI: - 0.45 to - 0.20, p < 0.0001) and - 0.15 (95% CI: - 0.28 to - 0.03, p < 0.0001) for FBS and HbA1c levels, respectively. Positive significant effects were observed on reducing BMI [pooled mean difference = - 0.47 (95% CI: - 0.66 to - 0.28), I² = 95.7%, p < 0.0001] and WC [pooled mean difference = - 0.66 (95% CI: - 0.89 to - 0.43), I² = 97.3%, p < 0.0001]. The use of theoretical frameworks was found to provide a 48.0% change in fasting blood sugar.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a comprehensive data collection of about 16,106 participants and reasonable analyses, we conclude that educational interventions may reduce diabetes incidence by 54.0%, particularly through reductions in fasting blood glucose, body mass index, and waist circumference. The diabetes risk parameters may favorably improve irrespective of the duration of intervention, at as low as 6 months. The application of theoretical frameworks while designing educational interventions is also encouraged.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42018115877.