A Cohort Review Approach Evaluating Community Health Worker Programs in New York City, 2015-2017

Prev Chronic Dis. 2019 Jul 11:16:E88. doi: 10.5888/pcd16.180623.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe how a cohort review approach was applied as an evaluation framework for a community health worker intervention among adult residents in 5 public housing developments in New York City in 2015-2017. The cohort review approach involved systematically monitoring participants engaged in the Harlem Health Advocacy Partners program during a given time period ("cohort") to assess individual outcomes and program performance. We monitored participation status (completed, still active, disengaged, on leave, or died) and health outcomes. In this example of a cohort review, levels of enrollment and program disengagement were higher in cohort 1 than in cohort 2. For 6-month health outcomes, the percentage of participants with hypertension who had controlled blood pressure was static in cohort 1 and improved significantly in cohort 2. The percentage of participants with diabetes who self-reported controlled hemoglobin A1c increased significantly in cohort 1 at 6-month follow-up. The cohort approach highlighted important outcome successes and identified workload challenges affecting recruitment and retention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Community Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Community Health Workers / organization & administration*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New York City
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Public Housing
  • Young Adult