Implementation and Evaluation of a mHealth-Based Community Health Worker Feedback Loop for Hispanics with and at Risk for Diabetes

Summary

This study equipped Community Health Workers (CHWs) with CareMessage to support low-income Hispanic patients with diabetes. The mHealth feedback loop enabled CHWs to identify and resolve hundreds of patient barriers, leading to significant improvements in participants' HbA1c levels compared to those in usual care.

Key Findings

• Through the program, CHWs identified 433 patient issues related to supplies, health, and medication access—and successfully resolved over 91% of them.
• Participants in the intervention group significantly improved their HbA1c. Those with uncontrolled diabetes saw an impressive average HbA1c reduction of -1.59%.
• Patients receiving standard care without the CHW feedback loop did not improve and, in some cases, saw their health markers worsen over the 15-month study.
• The communication loop, facilitated by mHealth tools like CareMessage, proved to be a highly effective way for CHWs to connect with patients and relay issues to clinicians.

Clinical Significance

This research demonstrates the power of combining CHW-led care with mHealth technology. The feedback loop created using CareMessage served as a critical bridge, allowing CHWs to proactively address patient needs that often go unnoticed between appointments. This model not only improved clinical outcomes like HbA1c but also prevented the health decline seen in the control group, proving it is a vital strategy for managing chronic disease in vulnerable communities.

CareMessage Product Features

Outreach, Messenger

Citation

Vaughan, E. M., Cardenas Jr, V. J., Chan, W., Amspoker, A. B., Johnston, C. A., Virani, S. S., ... & Naik, A. D. (2023). Implementation and Evaluation of a mHealth-Based Community Health Worker Feedback Loop for Hispanics with and at Risk for Diabetes. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 39(2), 229-238.