Poor engagement in care contributes to HIV- and TB-related morbidity and mortality in South Africa (SA). Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline lay health workers who work to re-engage patients who are lost to follow-up (LTFU) in HIV/TB care. Patients with depression and substance use (SU) have a greater likelihood of being LTFU in HIV/TB care, and there is evidence that CHWs may exhibit stigma towards these patients. When CHWs have negative attitudes towards these patients, on average they spend less time with these patients, are less likely to implement evidence-based practices, and deliver less patient-centered care. Therefore, this purpose of this study is to examine the implementation and preliminary effectiveness of a brief training ("Siyakhana"). The purpose of this training is to provide CHWs with psychoeducation, skills, and support around working with HIV/TB patients with depression/SU. The investigators will assess the training's implementation and changes in CHWs' stigma towards HIV/TB patients with depression/SU.
South Africa (SA) has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world and a high tuberculosis (TB) burden. Poor engagement in care contributes to HIV- and TB-related morbidity and mortality. In this context, community health workers (CHWs) are frontline lay health workers who play a central role in re-engaging patients who are lost to follow-up (LTFU) in HIV/TB care. Even with existing CHW programs focused on re-engaging patients who are LTFU, people with depression, hazardous alcohol use, or other substance use (SU) are particularly susceptible to poor engagement in HIV/TB care and have a greater likelihood of being LTFU. At the moment, CHWs receive minimal, if any, training on depression and SU, and there is some evidence that CHWs may exhibit stigma towards these patients. When CHWs have negative attitudes towards these patients, on average they spend less time with these patients, are less likely to implement evidence-based practices, and deliver less patient-centered care. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the implementation and preliminary effectiveness of a brief training ("Siyakhana") focused on providing CHWs with psychoeducation, skills, and support around working with patients with depression/SU. In a Type 2, hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial, and using a stepped wedge design, the investigators will primarily assess the training's implementation (feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity) and changes in CHWs' stigma towards HIV/TB patients with depression/SU.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
82
Please see arm description.
South African Medical Research Council
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
CHW Stigma Towards Substance Use
CHW stigma towards substance use measured using the Social Distance Scale (SDS). SDS scores range from 6 to 24, with higher scores indicating more desired social distance (more stigma).
Time frame: Change between baseline assessment and 6-month follow-up (approximately 6-months post-training)
CHW Stigma Towards Depression
CHW stigma towards depression measured using the Social Distance Scale (SDS). SDS scores range from 6 to 24, with higher scores indicating more desired social distance (more stigma).
Time frame: Change between baseline assessment and 6-month follow-up (approximately 6-months post-training)
Training Feasibility
The number of CHWs who attended all three days of the Siyakhana training. The training will be considered feasible if over 75% of CHWs attend the full training.
Time frame: 3-months post-training
Acceptability
Acceptability subscale of the John Hopkins D\&I Measure, a 12-item measure for assessing dissemination and implementation outcomes in low- and middle-income settings. This measure will specifically assess CHW's perceived satisfaction, relevance, usefulness, comprehension, and comfort level of the training. Items are rated on a 0-3 scale, and averaged, with lower scores (closer to 0) indicating low acceptability and higher scores (closer to 3) indicating higher acceptability.
Time frame: 3-months post-training
CHW Training Fidelity
20% of CHW role-plays at the 3-month follow-up assessment (approximately 3-months post-training) randomly selected for rating using the ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors (ENACT) tool, a 15-item validated measure of fidelity and clinical competence among non-specialist workers, by two independent bilingual assessors. Ratings were given for 15 clinical competencies, giving scores of 1 (harmful), 2 (some basic skills), 3 (all basic skills), or 4 (advanced skills). CHW fidelity scores were calculated based on ENACT items rated as delivered with competence. A cut-off of ≥2 (some basic skills) was used to define fidelity for each item.
Time frame: 3-months post-training
CHW Stigma Towards Substance Use
CHW stigma towards substance use measured using the Social Distance Scale (SDS). SDS scores range from 6 to 24, with higher scores indicating more desired social distance (more stigma).
Time frame: Change between baseline assessment and 3-month follow-up (approximately 3-months post-training)
CHW Stigma Towards Depression
CHW stigma towards depression measured using the Social Distance Scale (SDS). SDS scores range from 6 to 24, with higher scores indicating more desired social distance (more stigma).
Time frame: Change between baseline assessment and 3-month follow-up (approximately 3-months post-training)
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