Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37173687›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2023

Principles for task shifting hypertension and diabetes screening and referral: a qualitative study exploring patient, community health worker and healthcare professional perceptions in rural Uganda.

Rebecca Ingenhoff, Richard Munana, Ivan Weswa, Julia Gaal, Isaac Sekitoleko, Hillary Mutabazi, Benjamin E Bodnar, Tracy L Rabin, Trishul Siddharthan, Robert Kalyesubula and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed
8.2field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 25 citations in OpenAlex.

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  6. Co-developing a community health worker-led hypertension control intervention in Peru through a human-centered design approach.Revista panamericana de salud publica = Pan American journal of public health · 2026
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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

12 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.

Rebecca IngenhoffDepartment of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. rebecca.ingenhoff@charite.de.
Richard MunanaDepartment of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Ivan WeswaAfrican Community Center for Social Sustainability, Nakaseke, Uganda.
Julia GaalDepartment of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Isaac SekitolekoMRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Kampala, Uganda.
Hillary MutabaziAfrican Community Center for Social Sustainability, Nakaseke, Uganda.
Benjamin E BodnarDepartment of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Tracy L RabinDepartment of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Trishul SiddharthanDepartment of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA.
Robert KalyesubulaAfrican Community Center for Social Sustainability, Nakaseke, Uganda.
Felix KnaufDepartment of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Christine K NalwaddaDepartment of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · DEMakerere University · UGYale University · USJohns Hopkins University · USUganda Virus Research Institute · UGUniversity of Miami · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA shortage of healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) combined with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes mellitus has resulted in increasing gaps in care delivery for NCDs. As community health workers (CHWs) often play an established role in LMIC healthcare systems, these programs could be leveraged to strengthen healthcare access. The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of task shifting screening and referral for hypertension and diabetes to CHWs in rural Uganda.

methodsThis qualitative, exploratory study was conducted in August 2021 among patients, CHWs and healthcare professionals. Through 24 in-depth interviews and ten focus group discussions, we investigated perceptions of task shifting to CHWs in the screening and referral of NCDs in Nakaseke, rural Uganda. This study employed a holistic approach targeting stakeholders involved in the implementation of task shifting programs. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically guided by the framework method.

resultsAnalysis identified elements likely to be required for successful program implementation in this context. Fundamental drivers of CHW programs included structured supervision, patients' access to care through CHWs, community involvement, remuneration and facilitation, as well as building CHW knowledge and skills through training. Additional enablers comprised specific CHW characteristics such as confidence, commitment and motivation, as well as social relations and empathy. Lastly, socioemotional aspects such as trust, virtuous behavior, recognition in the community, and the presence of mutual respect were reported to be critical to the success of task shifting programs.

conclusionCHWs are perceived as a useful resource when task shifting NCD screening and referral for hypertension and diabetes from facility-based healthcare workers. Before implementation of a task shifting program, it is essential to consider the multiple layers of needs portrayed in this study. This ensures a successful program that overcomes community concerns and may serve as guidance to implement task shifting in similar settings.

Indexed as

Diabetes MellitusHypertensionCommunity Health WorkersFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansQualitative ResearchReferral and ConsultationUgandaCommunity health workersDiabetesHypertensionPerceptionsReferralScreeningTask shiftingUganda

Identifiers

PMID37173687
PMCPMC10176286
OpenAlexW4376254955

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.