Integration of Community Health Workers into Palliative Care Teams: A Scoping Review

Background: Rural communities, like other places in the United States, face a growing need for palliative care. Community health workers (CHWs) are one potential way to expand the ability to provide palliative care. This scoping review explores what is known about CHWs involved in palliative care te...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Western journal of nursing research 2025-02, Vol.47 (2), p.110-124
Main Authors: Kroeze Visser, Angela, Pithan, Anne, Kupershmidt, Sabina, Kenyon, DenYelle B., Puumala, Susan E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advance directives
Best practice
Care plans
Community health care
Community Health Workers
Domiciliary visits
Health care
Humans
Integrated care
Medical records
Medical referrals
Palliative care
Palliative Care - methods
Patient Care Team
Patients
Rural communities
Social support
Teams
Translation
United States
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Summary:Background: Rural communities, like other places in the United States, face a growing need for palliative care. Community health workers (CHWs) are one potential way to expand the ability to provide palliative care. This scoping review explores what is known about CHWs involved in palliative care teams in the United States. Objective: This scoping review is intended to outline current evidence related to best practices and factors that lead to the integration of CHWs into palliative care teams. Methods: A scoping review was conducted between June 2022 and April 2023 using 3 databases (CIHAHL, ScienceDirect, and PubMed) to identify included studies. Studies included were published between 2000 and 2022; discussed CHWs, lay health navigators, or associated terms, and palliative care in the United States; and addressed CHWs’ integration with health care teams. Results: The 24 studies included in this review encompassed qualitative and quantitative reports of CHW interventions that successfully increased advanced care planning documentation, improved patient symptoms, and increased hospice use. Home visits and telephone visits allowed CHWs to provide education, advocate, make referrals, and serve as social support. Stakeholders generally support the role of CHWs in palliative care teams and understand the way they can support “cultural translation.” Conclusions: CHWs have the potential to be integrated into palliative care teams, but there is variability in the approach toward roles within palliative care teams, training for CHWs, and strategies for integration within clinical teams.
ISSN:0193-9459
1552-8456
1552-8456
DOI:10.1177/01939459241304520