2022 journal article
Creating information resources and trainings for farmworker-serving community health workers
JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 110(1), 113–118.
author keywords: farmworkers; health literacy; community health workers; health promotion; information literacy; healthcare disparities; minority health
MeSH headings : Humans; Community Health Workers; Farmers; Focus Groups; Health Literacy; Hispanic or Latino; United States; Consumer Health Information; Information Seeking Behavior; Librarians
TL;DR:
A resource list of educational materials for farmworker health, videos to increase community health workers' skills finding health information online, and webinars to introduce these resources to community health students represent a first step in addressing community health worker' limited access to professional development.
(via Semantic Scholar)
open access via jmla.pitt.edu (publisher PDF)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
3. Good Health and Well-being
(Web of Science)
4. Quality Education
(OpenAlex)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: March 14, 2022
Background: Farmworker-serving community health workers have limited access to farmworker health research findings, training, and education resources. With funding from the National Library of Medicine, we are working to improve the health information literacy of both community health workers and farmworkers. We conducted focus group discussions with community health workers to explore their experiences providing health education and information to farmworkers, their information-seeking behaviors, and their technology and information needs. Data from the focus groups provided insights into the main areas in which community health workers would like to receive professional development. Case Presentation: Our team, which includes health sciences librarians, developed a resource list of educational materials for farmworker health, videos to increase community health workers’ skills finding health information online, and webinars to introduce these resources to community health workers. Videos, available in Spanish and English, included instruction on finding and evaluating online health information, accessing reputable online consumer health information sources, and advanced searching tips for Google and PubMed. Through three webinars, we introduced the resource list, videos, and design software for creating handouts and infographics to community health workers. Conclusions: Community health workers have a critical role in providing health education and information to farmworkers, and our efforts represent a first step in addressing community health workers’ limited access to professional development. Health sciences librarians are well positioned to partner with interdisciplinary teams working to reduce health disparities and provide resources and training to community health workers, farmworkers, and other underserved communities.