Journal of Community Health
Volume 40, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 131-137

Risk Screening for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes in Latino Migrant Farmworkers: A Role for the Community Health Worker (Article)

Thompson R.H.* , Snyder A.E. , Burt D.R. , Greiner D.S. , Luna M.A.
  • a Clinical Instructor, University of Virginia School of Nursing, PO Box 800729, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, University of Virginia Department of Family Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
  • b Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
  • c Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
  • d Professor Emerita, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States
  • e Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States

Abstract

Diabetes and heart disease are two of the leading causes of death for Hispanics living in the United States (American Heart Association [AHA] in Circulation 123:e18–e209. doi:10.1161/CIR.0b013e3182009701, 2010). As the Hispanic population continues to grow, the need for low-cost, non-invasive methods to detect at risk populations for such diseases becomes more important. Once at risk individuals are detected, prevention strategies can be implemented. Studies have shown that Latino community health workers (CHWs) are effective educators, patient advocates and health promotion motivators for patients with known heart disease or diabetes. This pilot study examined the accuracy with which Latino CHWs could determine migrant farmworkers at risk for diabetes or cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rural Virginia. This quasi-experimental study supports the hypothesis that Latino CHWs can use non-invasive diabetes and CVD screening tools with similar accuracy as a registered nurse. The screening tools used were the American Diabetes Association’s diabetes risk calculator and a non-laboratory screening tool for CVD risk designed by Gaziano et al. (Lancet 371:923–931, 2008). The terms Latino and Hispanic will be used interchangeably. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Hispanic migrant cardiovascular disease diabetes community health worker

Index Keywords

Community Health Workers mass screening Cardiovascular Diseases human risk assessment middle aged diabetes mellitus Agriculture Aged health auxiliary ethnology Hispanic Americans United States Young Adult Humans cardiovascular disease Hispanic Adolescent male female pilot study risk factor Risk Factors Virginia organization and management adult migration Transients and Migrants Pilot Projects
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84940235616&doi=10.1007%2fs10900-014-9910-2&partnerID=40&md5=7be32b9f30ab1c59c25851f38406e508
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-014-9910-2
ISSN: 00945145
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English