HPAC Scholar's Day 2019 CHW_Assessment_Key_Findings | Page 27

To understand more broadly how CHWs are currently being trained and
utilized in Ohio, focus groups were conducted. Focus groups are useful in
capacity assessments to collect in-depth qualitative data on the range of
attitudes and opinions from the population of interest in order to help frame
and interpret quantitative data collected in the assessment (Gilmore, 2012).
Focus groups often elicit opinions about group norms as well as to discover
variety within the population of interest (Gilmore, 2012). Specifically, the
purpose of these focus groups was to obtain CHW perspectives on how CHWs
fit into the current health care system, CHW training, CHW certification, CHW
employment, CHW supervision, CHW roles, barriers to CHW practice in Ohio,
and the profession in general.
Focus groups were conducted in two phases. Two focus groups were
conducted during phase I during the primary period of data collection for
the assessment. In phase II, three additional focus groups were conducted
after the preliminary report of assessment findings and recommendations
was written to further investigate gaps in knowledge from the preliminary
findings regarding non-certified CHWs and to validate the direction of the
recommendations. The purpose of these additional focus groups were to
understand more clearly some of the findings from the CHW assessment and the
recommended path forward for CHWs in Ohio from the perspective of CHWs.
Sample Characteristics
In total, the nine phase I focus group
participants ranged from ages 26-66
and represented five different counties
across Central, Northwest, Northeast, and
Southwest Ohio. All participants were female
and certified CHWs. A majority of participants
were African American with one participant
who was Asian, one who was Caucasian, and
one who was Hispanic. Three participants
were currently unemployed and most of the
participants were certified within the last
four years while one participant had been
certified for 11 years or more.
In total, the 10 phase II focus group
participants ranged from ages 36-61 years.
Seven of the 10 participants were non-
certified CHWs, while three were certified.
One of the non-certified participants
was working towards certification. Three
participants were also members of the
OCHWA. The participants represented
six different counties across northwest,
northeast, central, and southwest Ohio.
All participants were female and currently
employed full-time as CHWs (or completing
their practicum). A majority of participants
were African American (six participants), while
three were Caucasian, and one was Hispanic.
Participants ranged from practicing as CHWs
for 6 months to greater than 11 years.
Discussion of Focus Group Findings
The phase I focus groups of certified CHWs
revealed six major themes (derived from 26
categories and 167 codes) that are on the
minds of the focus group participants who
Focus Groups
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