Improving Community Health Workers’ Attitudes toward Collaborative Practice in the Care of Older Adults: An In-Service Training Intervention Trial in the Philippines

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 19; p. 9986
• Main Authors: Siongco, Kathryn Lizbeth L., Nakamura, Keiko, Seino, Kaoruko, Moncatar, TJ Robinson T., Tejero, Lourdes Marie S., De La Vega, Shelley Ann F., Bonito, Sheila R., Javier, Richard, Tsutsui, Takako, Tashiro, Yuri, Al-Sobaihi, Saber, Lorenzo, Fely Marilyn E., Canila, Carmelita C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 23.09.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Active learning; Adults; Age; Attitudes; Collaboration; Geriatrics; Gerontology; Health behavior; Health care; Health services; Interactive learning; Interprofessional education; Intervention; Local government; Maternal & child health; Measures; Medical personnel; Older people; Primary care; Professionals; Professions; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Roles; Social interactions; Social support; Teams; Training; Workers; Philippines
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18199986

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an in-service, short-term training program in improving the attitudes toward, and readiness and activities for collaboration among community health workers (CHWs) in a primary care setting in the Philippines. A randomized controlled trial was adopted dividing participants into an intervention (n = 42) and a control group (n = 39). Attitudes toward, and readiness and activities for collaboration were measured using three standardized scales before and at 6 months after the training. A significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in the Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale (ATHCTS) scores between pre- and post-test in the intervention (6.3 ± 8.3 [Mean ± SD]) and control groups (0.7 ± 8.2). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed an independent positive association between the intervention and greater improvement in the ATHCTS score (Coefficient β = 6.17; 95% CI = 0.82, 11.53; p = 0.03) at follow-up, after adjustment for age, years in current occupation, and social support role of participants. The results demonstrated the efficacy of the intervention for improving the attitudes of CHWs toward collaborative practice in the care of older adults.