Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42765075›Full record

ArticleClinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)2026

Pilot Community Health Worker-Based Intervention to Address Social Determinants of Health Among Patients with Diabetes in Ophthalmology.

Bethel Joy DeGracia, Zainab Rustam, Jose Amezcua Moreno, Sophia E Yu, Diep Tran, Kenya Ferguson, James Wilson, Randi Woods, Cindy X Cai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Bethel Joy DeGracia *Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.ORCID 0009-0000-3076-355X
Zainab Rustam *Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8686-3517
Jose Amezcua MorenoWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Sophia E YuWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.ORCID 0009-0000-9408-2972
Diep TranWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kenya FergusonSisters Together and Reaching, Inc, Baltimore, MD, USA.
James WilsonSisters Together and Reaching, Inc, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Randi WoodsSisters Together and Reaching, Inc, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Cindy X CaiWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Funding

Impact of Social Determinants of Health in Diabetic RetinopathyK23EY033440 · NEI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI Cindy Xinji Cai · 2022 to 2026
$1.1M
NEI NIH HHS K23 EY033440
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Community Health Workers (CHWs) represent a potential strategy in ophthalmology to address adverse social determinants of health (SDoH) and improve vision outcomes. In this study, we explored the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a structured CHW intervention among patients with diabetes. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective single-center pilot study conducted at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute. Adult participants (≥ 18 years) with diabetes and at least one adverse SDoH participated in the study. The CHW worked with the participant for on average 6 months to address the social barriers identified at screening. At the conclusion of the study, participants completed a follow-up SDoH survey and a semi-structured exit interview. Results: Out of 45 enrolled participants, 23 completed the study (mean age 56 years, 52% female, and 83% non-Hispanic Black). Many participants (83%) were satisfied with the frequency of the meetings, 87% had a positive experience with the CHW and felt respected and supported (74%) throughout the program. The experience with the broader program was more mixed with 17% reporting it was negative, 22% neutral, and 57% positive. Participants found the program helpful for resource education (65%), emotional support (43%), access to medical services (43%), and self-confidence (57%). Challenges included limited resources available to address certain social needs and language barriers among the Spanish speaking participants. Participants reported high trust in CHW, but there were no significant changes in pre- and post-intervention SDoH surveys (p>0.05). Conclusion: Integration of CHWs into ophthalmology is feasible and acceptable among patients with diabetes who remained actively engaged over time. High trust in CHW and improvement in resource navigation, health knowledge, and confidence were reported. Our findings support development of CHW integration in ophthalmology as a potential intervention to address barriers to care and improve vision outcomes.

Indexed as

community health workerdiabetic eye caresocial determinants of health

Identifiers

PMID42765075
PMCPMC13589991

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.