Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26449232›Full record

ArticleInternational journal for equity in health2015

Integrating views on support for mid-level health worker performance: a concept mapping study with regional health system actors in rural Guatemala.

Alison R Hernández, Anna-Karin Hurtig, Kjerstin Dahlblom, Miguel San Sebastián

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal for equity in health, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Alison R HernándezDivision of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. alison.hernandez@umu.se.
Anna-Karin HurtigDivision of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. anna-karin.hurtig@umu.se.
Kjerstin DahlblomDivision of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. kjerstin.dahlblom@umu.se.
Miguel San SebastiánDivision of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. miguel.sansebastian@umu.se.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMid-level health workers are on the front-lines in underserved areas in many LMICs, and their performance is critical for improving the health of vulnerable populations. However, improving performance in low-resource settings is complex and highly dependent on the organizational context of local health systems. This study aims to examine the views of actors from different levels of a regional health system in Guatemala on actions to support the performance of auxiliary nurses, a cadre of mid-level health workers with a prominent role in public sector service delivery. A concept mapping study was carried out to develop an integrated view on organizational support and identify locally relevant strategies for strengthening performance.

methodsA total of 93 regional and district managers, and primary and secondary care health workers participated in generating ideas on actions needed to support auxiliary nurses' performance. Ideas were consolidated into 30 action items, which were structured through sorting and rating exercises, involving a total of 135 of managers and health workers. Maps depicting participants' integrated views on domains of action and dynamics in sub-groups' interests were generated using a sequence of multivariate statistical analyses, and interpreted by regional managers.

resultsThe combined input of health system actors provided a multi-faceted view of actions needed to support performance, which were organized in six domains, including: Communication and coordination, Tools to orient work, Organizational climate of support, Motivation through recognition, Professional development and Skills development. The nature of relationships across hierarchical levels was identified as a cross-cutting theme. Pattern matching and go-zone maps indicated directions for action based on areas of consensus and difference across sub-groups of actors.

conclusionsThis study indicates that auxiliary nurses' performance is interconnected with the performance of other health system actors who require support, including managers and community-level collaborators. Organizational climate is critical for making auxiliary nurses feel supported, and greater attention to improving the quality of hierarchical relationships is needed in LMIC settings. The participatory nature of the concept-mapping process enabled health system actors to collaborate in co-production of context-specific knowledge needed to guide efforts to strengthen performance in a vulnerable region.

Indexed as

Concept FormationHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMedically Underserved AreaRural PopulationCommunity Health WorkersGuatemalaHumansMaleProfessional Competence

Identifiers

PMID26449232
PMCPMC4599024

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.