Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Feb 13, 2024
Date Accepted: Jul 31, 2024
Community Health Workers as Mental Health Paraprofessionals: A Mixed Methods Pilot Feasibility Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Community health workers (CHWs) are effective in delivering behavioral activation, especially in low-resource settings. In an area with a lack of Spanish-speaking mental health counselors such as southwest Montana, CHWs can provide needed care.
Objective:
The goal of this pilot study protocol is to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a model of care which engages community health workers (CHWs) as providers of behavioral activation (BA).
Methods:
We will train two CHWs in BA methodology. We will enroll 20 participants who screen positive for depression in a 12-week, telephone intervention of BA. Preliminary efficacy will be tested in pre- and post- scores of Beck’s Depression Inventory. Feasibility and acceptability will be measured in semi-structured interviews.
Results:
We expect that this pilot study of BA delivered by CHWs will provide initial evidence that BA can be effectively delivered to Latinos with Limited English Proficiency in a manner that is acceptable and feasible.
Conclusions:
Results from this study will inform future studies into the implementation of an evidence-based mental health intervention in a limited resource setting to Latinos with Limited English Proficiency. Clinical Trial: N/A
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