Creation of a Collaborative Model for Community Health Promotion Through Empowerment Among Community Health Workers...

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Public Health Nursing
• Health Workforce Collaboration

Background:

• Effective community-based health promotion requires integrating diverse professional perspectives.
• Public health nurses (PHNs) and community health workers (CHWs) play crucial roles in community health but often work in silos.
• A practical model is needed to foster collaboration and mutual empowerment between PHNs and CHWs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the dynamics of collaboration and empowerment between PHNs and CHWs.
• To construct a practical, collaborative model integrating PHN and CHW perspectives for community health promotion.
• To identify factors that enhance the effectiveness of PHN-CHW partnerships.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing a phenomenological approach.
• Data collected through individual interviews with PHNs and group interviews with CHWs in Japan.
• Inductive qualitative analysis to identify key themes and inform model development.

Main Results:

• PHNs acknowledged CHWs' vital roles in lifestyle support, trust-building, and community engagement.
• CHWs reported strong community connections, organizational communication, and finding meaning in their work.
• Seven distinct themes emerged from the analysis, highlighting areas of synergy and potential conflict.

Conclusions:

• The developed collaborative model can enhance the practical skills of health professionals in community settings.
• The model provides a framework for strengthening collaboration and empowerment between PHNs and CHWs.
• This approach supports more effective community health promotion initiatives through interprofessional teamwork.