Abstract
Purpose
To examine whether sociodemographic or professional characteristics predicted learning gains among community health workers (CHWs) immediately after completing a modified World Health Organization (WHO) smoking cessation training.
Design
Secondary analysis of pre–post educational intervention conducted between October 2022 and June 2025 in Chicago, Illinois and San Joaquin Valley, California.
Sample
149 CHWs employed or in training, recruited through community-based organizations, public health agencies, and CHW certification programs in Chicago and San Joaquin Valley.
Intervention
A three-hour culturally adapted WHO 5A’s/5R’s training emphasizing motivational interviewing, structural determinants of health, and community-centered cessation support.
Measures
Pre–post self-administered surveys assessed tobacco-related knowledge (10-item test), motivation, readiness, and confidence (10-point scales). Independent variables included age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, prior tobacco training/coursework, and time in position.
Analysis
Paired-sample t-tests evaluated pre–post differences; multivariable linear regressions examined predictors of change using STATA 19.
Results
Significant improvements were observed in knowledge (ΔM = 3.02, P < .001), motivation (ΔM = 0.90, P < .001), readiness (ΔM = 2.16, P < .001), and confidence (ΔM = 2.09, P < .001). Regression models showed no consistent sociodemographic predictors of change. Younger age (P = .024) and postgraduate education (P = .033) predicted greater readiness gains.
Conclusion
The training produced substantial, equitable improvements across learning domains, indicating that culturally adapted, practice-oriented curricula can enhance CHW competence regardless of background. Findings support inclusive, community-responsive training as a mechanism of workforce equity.
Keywords
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