Disparities in access to tobacco cessation support and resources remain significant issues among community members with low socioeconomic status (SES). Community health workers (CHWs) can connect with community members and have flexibility in delivering treatments to underserved populations. The Community Health Allies Nicotine Guidance Education (C.H.A.N.G.E.) project, designed for CHWs in Chicago, aims to address the disparities by implementing a tailored tobacco cessation training program. The current study examined the C.H.A.N.G.E. program's preliminary effectiveness and knowledge retention. Data were collected from Chicago local CHWs who participated in the training program through pre-training, post-training, and follow-up surveys with tobacco cessation knowledge tests conducted between October and December 2023. A paired samples t-test was conducted to assess changes in CHW's knowledge change, and descriptive analysis was conducted on knowledge trajectory and retention. CHWs (N=72) were most women (68%) who worked in their current role for an average of 2.34 years (SD = 1.54). The mean age of participants in the study was 38.06 years (SD=13.09). Baseline knowledge was low M = 3.75(1.18), but significantly increased post-training M = 6.64(1.13); p <.001. Results showed a significant increase in tobacco cessation knowledge post-training, somewhat retained at one-month but not six-month follow-up. However, knowledge changes had no significant differences based on client types of CHWs. This study highlights the importance of continuous adaptation and evaluation of training programs to fit the needs of CHWs and their low-SES clients in community-based settings.
Tianqu Lu (Sat,) studied this question.