Developing an evidence-based fall prevention curriculum for community health workers

Julie A St John; Tiffany E Shubert; Matthew Lee Smith; Cherie A Rosemond; Doris A Howell; Christopher E Beaudoin; Marcia G Ory

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2014.00209

Developing an evidence-based fall prevention curriculum for community health workers

Front Public Health. 2015 Apr 27:2:209. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00209. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Julie A St John¹, Tiffany E Shubert², Matthew Lee Smith³, Cherie A Rosemond⁴, Doris A Howell⁵, Christopher E Beaudoin⁶, Marcia G Ory⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Abilene, TX , USA.
² Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
³ College of Public Health, The University of Georgia , Athens, GA , USA.
⁴ Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA.
⁵ Program on Healthy Aging, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health , College Station, TX , USA.
⁶ Department of Communication, Texas A&M University , College Station, TX , USA.
⁷ Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health , College Station, TX , USA.

Abstract

This perspective paper describes processes in the development of an evidence-based fall prevention curriculum for community health workers/promotores (CHW/P) that highlights the development of the curriculum and addresses: (1) the need and rationale for involving CHW/P in fall prevention; (2) involvement of CHW/P and content experts in the curriculum development; (3) best practices utilized in the curriculum development and training implementation; and (4) next steps for dissemination and utilization of the CHW/P fall prevention curriculum. The project team of CHW/P and content experts developed, pilot tested, and revised bilingual in-person training modules about fall prevention among older adults. The curriculum incorporated the following major themes: (1) fall risk factors and strategies to reduce/prevent falls; (2) communication strategies to reduce risk of falling and strategies for developing fall prevention plans; and (3) health behavior change theories utilized to prevent and reduce falls. Three separate fall prevention modules were developed for CHW/P and CHW/P Instructors to be used during in-person trainings. Module development incorporated a five-step process: (1) conduct informal focus groups with CHW/P to inform content development; (2) develop three in-person modules in English and Spanish with input from content experts; (3) pilot-test the modules with CHW/P; (4) refine and finalize modules based on pilot-test feedback; and (5) submit modules for approval of continuing education units. This project contributes to the existing evidence-based literature by examining the role of CHW/P in fall prevention among older adults. By including evidence-based communication strategies such as message tailoring, the curriculum design allows CHW/P to personalize the information for individuals, which can result in an effective dissemination of a curriculum that is evidence-based and culturally appropriate.

Keywords: community health workers; curriculum development; fall prevention; older adults; promotores; training.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding