Racial Differences in Retention in a Community-based Addiction Reduction Program Implemented by Peer Recovery Coaches for Women of Reproductive Age.

To identify program characteristics that influence the retention of women of reproductive age in the Community-based Addiction Reduction program (CARE), mixed-method analyses of CARE survey data and CARE Peer Recovery Coach (PRC) narrative entries of participant encounters were performed. About 251 women were enrolled in this prospective community-based implementation science intervention. We compared survey responses by race for treatment status, treatment motivation scales, and retention in the program at intake, 2-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow ups using Chi-square/T-tests. Qualitative analysis of PRC narrative entries was conducted following thematic analysis and crystallization immersion analytic methods. White compared with Black women in CARE were significantly more likely to be in treatment at intake (P < .001) and more motivated to engage in recovery treatment (P < .001). However, Black women were retained longer in CARE at 2- (P < .006), 6- (P < .011), and 9- (P < .004) months. PRC narrative entries were coded, and emergent themes mapped well to the 4 types of supports provided by PRC as outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: emotional, instrumental, informational, and affiliational. Analysis of narrative entries by race revealed that Black women were given more detailed information, communications with PRC were more encouraging and proactive in identifying and meeting needs, and PRC took a more hands-on approach when assisting and linking to resources. The inclusion of PRC as integral members of SUD recovery programs may preferentially provide Black women with SUD the opportunity to build more trusting relationships with these peer coaches, thereby increasing their participation and retention.

Evaluation of a Program to Reduce Infant Mortality Risk Factors in Central Indiana.

The purpose of the program WeCare was to provide a personalized approach to addressing the wide array of psycho-social-cultural-fiscal needs to reduce risk factors for infant mortality (IM) by supporting maternal and infant health through health coaching by community health workers (CHWs). A prospective cohort study of 1,513 women from highest risk ZIP codes for IM in central Indiana were followed over three years. The WeCare program focused on training and deploying CHWs to provide evidence-based, patient-centered social care and support to pregnant and postpartum women and tracked outcomes in health risk categories (mental health, nutrition, safe sleep, breastfeeding) targeted for behavioral change. The low birth weight rate among program participants was lower (8.9%) than Marion County's rate (10%) (p=0.23) with statistically significant improvement in many risk behaviors. Despite limitations, the personalized coaching provided by the CHWs provided an effective, practical approach to maternal and child health disparities.

Clarifying Values and Preferences for Care Near the End of Life: The Role of a New Lay Workforce.

Community health workers (CHWs) can engage elderly persons in advance care planning (ACP) conversations. We report how trained CHWs used Go Wish cards (GW R cards) to identify patients' highest priority preferences and evaluated whether engaging in ACP conversations was associated with subsequent health care utilization. A one-year long, pre-post longitudinal design was used to evaluate our educational intervention using mixed-methods. 392 patients (mean of 73.3 years, 82% women, 48% African American, 43% Caucasian) enrolled in the Aging Brain Care (ABC) program and participated in ACP discussions with CHWs. We expanded the role of the ABC's CHW, who work directly with individuals and caregivers during home visits to monitor bio-psycho-social needs, to include ACP conversations. The CHWs received ACP training, practice with tools such as GW R cards, and support from an electronic health record (EHR) clinical decision support tool. Quantitative measures of patients' ACP preferences and health care utilization were abstracted from the EHR. Qualitative data about patients' perceptions of CHWs in facilitating ACP discussions was obtained through semi-structured interviews. Eighty-six patients' data indicated that they had engaged in a preferences-for-care process using GW R cards. The top-three card choices by patients was attending to spirituality and religious concerns, preparing for end of life, and maintaining personal wholeness. CHWs were able to effectively engage in ACP conversations with patients and GW R cards were a positive way to stimulate discussion of issues previously undiscussed.

Impact of Community Health Workers on Elderly Patients' Advance Care Planning and Health Care Utilization: Moving the Dial.

BACKGROUND: Advance care planning (ACP) is recommended for all persons to ensure that the care they receive aligns with their values and preferences. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an ACP intervention developed to better meet the needs and priorities of persons with chronic diseases, including mild cognitive impairment. RESEARCH DESIGN: A year-long, pre-post intervention using lay community health workers [care coordinator assistants (CCAs)] trained to conduct and document ACP conversations with patients during home health visits with pre-post evaluation. SUBJECTS: The 818 patients were 74.2 years old (mean); 78% women; 51% African American; 43% white. MEASURES: Documentation of ACP conversation in electronic health record fields and health care utilization outcomes. RESULTS: In this target population ACP documentation rose from 3.4% (pre-CCA training) to 47.9% (post) of patients who had at least 1 discussion about ACP in the electronic health record. In the 1-year preintervention period, there were no differences in admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and outpatient visits between patients who did and did not have ACP discussion. After adjusting for prior hospitalization and ED use histories, ACP discussions were associated with a 34% less probability of hospitalization (hazard ratios, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.97), and similar effects are apparent on ED use independent of age and prior ED use effects. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic diseases including mild cognitive impairment can engage in ACP conversations with trusted home health care providers. Having ACP conversation is associated with significant reduction in seeking urgent health care and in hospitalizations.

Enhancing the prospects for palliative care at the end of life: A statewide educational demonstration project to improve advance care planning.

OBJECTIVE: Although patients want to participate in discussions and decisions about their end-of-life care, studies show that providers frequently fail to invite them to explore advanced care preferences or goals for living. The purpose of our demonstration project was to provide education and coaching to individuals, health providers, and organizations across the state of Indiana intended to facilitate these conversations, documenting and honoring individuals' life goals and preferences for care during the final stages of life. METHOD: Education and training engaged community members as well as healthcare providers to: (1) improve participant comfort and facility discussing end-of-life issues; (2) improve knowledge of healthcare choices, including palliative and hospice care; and (3) prepare all participants to explore and document personal values, life goals, and priorities as well as goals of care. RESULTS: Between January of 2013 and June of 2015, the team educated close to 5,000 participants. Participants' ratings of the quality and perceived usefulness of the educational events ranged from 4 to 5 (using a 5-point scale, with 5 = most effective). Participant comments were overwhelmingly favorable and indicated an intention to put the advance care planning resources, communication skills, knowledge of palliative and hospice care, and personal renewal techniques into practice. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Participant motivation to foster advance care planning, discussions of palliative care, and end-of-life conversations was facilitated by the reframing of these conversations as identifying goals of care and priorities for living well during an important stage of life. Successful strategies included helping providers and patients to adopt a broader meaning for "sustaining hope" (not for cure, but for engaging in highly valued activities), developing provider communication skills and comfort in initiating potentially difficult discussions, engaging a new community health workforce who will develop trusting relationships with patients in home-based services, and fostering self-awareness and self-care among palliative care providers.