Published March 8, 2026
| Version v1
Other
Open
Healthcare interventions involving community healthcare workers in the management of people with multiple long-term conditions: scoping review
Authors/Creators
-
Mzimkulu, Olona
(Contact person)1
-
Fairall, Lara
(Supervisor)2, 3, 1
-
Bachmann, Max
(Supervisor)4
-
Kredo, Tamara
(Other)5
-
Velapi, Linda
(Other)6
-
Curran, Robyn Leigh
(Other)7
-
Petersen, Inge
(Other)8, 9, 10
-
Simelane, Makhosazna Lungile Simelane
(Other)3
-
Georgeu-Pepper, Daniella
(Other)3, 1
-
Levitt, Naomi
(Supervisor)11, 1
-
1.
University of Cape Town
- 2. Kings College London
- 3. Knowledge Translation Unit
-
4.
University of East Anglia
-
5.
South African Medical Research Council
- 6. Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Stellenbosch University.
- 7. University of Cape Town Department of Medicine
- 8. University of KwaZulu-Natal
- 9. Centre for Research in Health System
- 10. Institute of Global Health, University College London
- 11. Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa
Description
A scoping review on healthcare interventions using community health workers in managing people with multiple long-term conditions aims to systematically map the existing evidence on interventions involving community health workers and their roles in providing care for people living with multiple long-term conditions.
Files
PRISMA Flow Diagram Figure 1.jpg
Files
(17.0 MB)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:8f217e97b87a626f5d25b9b64906a9d8
|
10.9 kB | Download |
|
md5:c4fda02aa244759c67232ca47c6a1448
|
50.8 kB | Download |
|
md5:28c064aa8fd63805e6cffcc730d6e7d5
|
17.6 kB | Download |
|
md5:d3664bf44dc9e233dd2287d073d43cd9
|
846.3 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:408ac1b1ed5cf391a134ee6229f3f6ea
|
2.1 MB | Preview Download |
|
md5:c43fbda476ea24f91119f61ef3b567bf
|
2.1 MB | Preview Download |
|
md5:46a3db4ea5b642018deb250d3a2191a6
|
12.0 kB | Download |
|
md5:e1d7d4ca32afdeaf495117ceac3ccf46
|
1.1 MB | Preview Download |
|
md5:f12b6960928f0971a3b8a089ca8e90de
|
854.6 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:41b4d31949d0f3739b6ed9db2318df54
|
9.8 MB | Preview Download |
Additional details
References
- 1. Hajat C, Stein E. The global burden of multiple chronic conditions: A narrative review. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Dec;12:284–93.
- 2. Roomaney RA, Van Wyk B, Turawa EB, Pillay-van Wyk V. Multimorbidity in South Africa: a systematic review of prevalence studies. BMJ Open. 2021 Oct;11(10):e048676.
- 3. Basto-Abreu A, Barrientos-Gutierrez T, Wade AN, Oliveira De Melo D, Semeão De Souza AS, Nunes BP, et al. Multimorbidity matters in low and middle-income countries. J Multimorb Comorbidity. 2022 Nov;12:26335565221106074.
- 4. Masnoon N, Shakib S, Kalisch-Ellett L, Caughey GE. What is polypharmacy? A systematic review of definitions. BMC Geriatr. 2017 Dec;17(1):230.
- 5. Academy of medical sciences (Royaume uni). Multimorbidity: a priority for global health research. Academy of medical sciences; 2018.
- 6. Mercer S, Furler J, Moffat K, Fischbacher-Smith D, Sanci L. Multimorbidity: technical series on safer primary care. World Health Organization; 2016.
- 7. Boniol M, Kunjumen T, Nair TS, Siyam A, Campbell J, Diallo K. The global health workforce stock and distribution in 2020 and 2030: a threat to equity and 'universal' health coverage? BMJ Glob Health. 2022 June;7(6):e009316.
- 8. Medcalf A, Nunes J. Visualising Primary Health Care: World Health Organization Representations of Community Health Workers, 1970–89. Med Hist. 2018 Oct;62(4):401–24.
- 9. Hartzler AL, Tuzzio L, Hsu C, Wagner EH. Roles and Functions of Community Health Workers in Primary Care. Ann Fam Med. 2018 May;16(3):240–5.
- 10. Malcarney MB, Pittman P, Quigley L, Horton K, Seiler N. The Changing Roles of Community Health Workers. Health Serv Res. 2017 Feb;52 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):360–82.
- 11. Schneider H, Hlophe H, Van Rensburg D. Community health workers and the response to HIV/AIDS in South Africa: tensions and prospects. Health Policy Plan. 2008 Mar 4;23(3):179–87.
- 12. Zulu JM, Kinsman J, Michelo C, Hurtig AK. Integrating national community-based health worker programmes into health systems: a systematic review identifying lessons learned from low-and middle-income countries. BMC Public Health. 2014 Dec;14(1):987
- 13. Zulu JM, Perry HB. Community health workers at the dawn of a new era. Health Res Policy Syst. 2021 Oct;19(S3):130, s12961-021-00761–7.
- 14. Bovbjerg RR, Eyster L, Ormond BA, Anderson T, Richardson E. The evolution, expansion, and effectiveness of community health workers. Wash DC Urban Inst. 2013;
- 15. Dutton J, McCaskill K, Alton S, Levesley M, Hemingway C, Farndon L. Changing roles in community health care: Delegation of insulin injections to health care support workers. Br J Community Nurs. 2018 Jan 2;23(1):14–9.
- 16. Niang M. What are the roles of community health workers? Looking back at the philosophies of primary health care. Glob Health Promot. 2020 June;27(2):117–20.
- 17. Scott K, Beckham SW, Gross M, Pariyo G, Rao KD, Cometto G, et al. What do we know about community-based health worker programs? A systematic review of existing reviews on community health workers. Hum Resour Health. 2018 Aug 16;16(1):39.
- 18. Tang H. Knowledge and Library Services: Clinical decision support tools: Clinical decision support tools [Internet]. [cited 2025 Jan 20]. Available from: https://bartshealth-nhs.libguides.com/c.php?g=678285&p=4833682
- 19. Feroz AS, Khoja A, Saleem S. Equipping community health workers with digital tools for pandemic response in LMICs. Arch Public Health Arch Belg Sante Publique. 2021 Jan 4;79(1):1.
- 20. Feroz A, Jabeen R, Saleem S. Using mobile phones to improve community health workers performance in low-and-middle-income countries. BMC Public Health. 2020 Jan 13;20(1):49.
- 21. Levac D, Colquhoun H, O'Brien KK. Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implement Sci. 2010 Dec;5(1):69.
- 22. Chapter 11: Scoping reviews. In: JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis [Internet]. JBI; 2020 [cited 2025 Jan 12]. Available from: https://jbi-global-wiki.refined.site/space/MANUAL/355863557/Previous+versions?attachment=/download/attachments/355863557/JBI_Reviewers_Manual_2020June.pdf&type=application/pdf&filename=JBI_Reviewers_Manual_2020June.pdf#page=406
- 23. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et alThe PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021 Mar 29;372:n71.
- 24. Li M, Tang H, Liu X. Primary care team and its association with quality of care for people with multimorbidity: a systematic review. BMC Prim Care. 2023 Jan 19;24(1):20.
- 25. Kennedy MA, Hatchell KE, DiMilia PR, Kelly SM, Blunt HB, Bagley PJ, et al. Community health worker interventions for older adults with complex health needs: A systematic review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 June;69(6):1670–82.
- 26. Melnyk BM, Morrison-Beedy D, Fleury J, Sidani S, Melnyk BM, Morrison-Beedy D, et al. Intervention Research [Internet]. Melnyk BM, Morrison-Beedy D, editors. Springer Publishing Company; 2012. 498 p. Available from: https://connect.springerpub.com/content/book/978-0-8261-0958-3
- 27. Aminawung JA, Harvey TD, Smart J, Calderon J, Steiner A, Kroboth E, et al. Formerly Incarcerated Community Health Workers Engaging Individuals Returning From Incarceration Into Primary Care: Results From the Transition Clinic Network. Front Public Health. 2021;9:681128.
- 28. Dye C, Willoughby D, Aybar-Damali B, Grady C, Oran R, Knudson A. Improving Chronic Disease Self-Management by Older Home Health Patients through Community Health Coaching. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Apr 2;15(4):660
- 29. Bansal S, Srinivasan K, Ekstrand M. Perceptions of ASHA workers in the HOPE collaborative care mental health intervention in rural South India: a qualitative analysis. BMJ Open. 2021 Nov 5;11(11):e047365.
- 30. Li LW, Xue J, Conwell Y, Yang Q, Chen S. Implementing collaborative care for older people with comorbid hypertension and depression in rural China. Int Psychogeriatr. 2020 Dec;32(12):1457–65.
- 31. Towfighi A, Cheng EM, Ayala-Rivera M, Barry F, McCreath H, Ganz DA, et al. Effect of a Coordinated Community and Chronic Care Model Team Intervention vs Usual Care on Systolic Blood Pressure in Patients With Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: The SUCCEED Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Feb 1;4(2):e2036227.
- 32. Kulnik ST, Pöstges H, Brimicombe L, Hammond J, Jones F. Implementing an interprofessional model of self-management support across a community workforce: A mixed-methods evaluation study. J Interprof Care. 2017 Jan;31(1):75–84.
- 33. Jafree SR, Muzammil A, Burhan SK, Bukhari N, Fischer F. Impact of a digital health literacy intervention and risk predictors for multimorbidity among poor women of reproductive years: Results of a randomized-controlled trial. Digit Health. 2023 Jan;9:205520762211445.
- 34. Russell D, Mola A, Onorato N, Johnson S, Williams J, Andaya M, et al. Preparing Home Health Aides to Serve as Health Coaches for Home Care Patients With Chronic Illness: Findings and Lessons Learned From a Mixed-Method Evaluation of Two Pilot Programs. Home Health Care Manag Pract. 2017 Aug;29(3):191–8.
- 35. Wang CJ, Fetzer SJ, Yang YC, Wang JJ. The impacts of using community health volunteers to coach medication safety behaviors among rural elders with chronic illnesses. Geriatr Nurs N Y N. 2013;34(2):138–45.
- 36. Srinivasan K, Heylen E, Johnson Pradeep R, Mony PK, Ekstrand ML. Collaborative care compared to enhanced standard treatment of depression with co-morbid medical conditions among patients from rural South India: a cluster randomized controlled trial (HOPE Study). BMC Psychiatry. 2022 June 13;22(1):394.
- 37. Yadav UN, Lloyd J, Baral KP, Bhatta N, Mehta S, Harris MF. Using a co-design process to develop an integrated model of care for delivering self-management intervention to multi-morbid COPD people in rural Nepal. Health Res Policy Syst. 2021 Feb 10;19(1):17.
- 38. Zgibor JC, Ye L, Boudreau RM, Conroy MB, Vander Bilt J, Rodgers EA, et al. Community-Based Healthy Aging Interventions for Older Adults with Arthritis and Multimorbidity. J Community Health. 2017 Apr;42(2):390–9.
- 39. Kangovi S, Mitra N, Grande D, Huo H, Smith RA, Long JA. Community Health Worker Support for Disadvantaged Patients With Multiple Chronic Diseases: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Am J Public Health. 2017 Oct;107(10):1660–7.
- 40. Lawn S, Westwood T, Jordans S, O'Connor J. Support workers as agents for health behavior change: An Australian study of the perceptions of clients with complex needs, support workers, and care coordinators. Gerontol Geriatr Educ. 2017;38(4):496–516.
- 41. Panda R, Lahoti S, Mishra N, Prabhu RR, Singh K, Rai AK, et al. A mixed methods evaluation of the impact of ECHO® telementoring model for capacity building of community health workers in India. Hum Resour Health. 2024 Apr 23;22(1):26.
- 42. Sherman M, Covert H, Fox L, Lichtveld M. Successes and Lessons Learned From Implementing Community Health Worker Programs in Community-Based and Clinical Settings: Insights From the Gulf Coast. J Public Health Manag Pract JPHMP. 2017;23 Suppl 6 Suppl, Gulf Region Health Outreach Program:S85–93.
- 43. Tsolekile LP, Puoane T, Schneider H, Levitt NS, Steyn K. The roles of community health workers in management of non-communicable diseases in an urban township. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med [Internet]. 2014 Nov 21 [cited 2024 July 5];6(1). Available from: https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/693
- 44. Perry HB, Zulliger R, Rogers MM. Community health workers in low-, middle-, and high-income countries: an overview of their history, recent evolution, and current effectiveness. Annu Rev Public Health. 2014;35:399–421.
- 45. Hajat C, Stein E. The global burden of multiple chronic conditions: A narrative review. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Dec;12:284–93.
- 46. World Health Organization [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 July 12]. Non communicable diseases. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases
- 47. Roomaney RA, Van Wyk B, Cois A, Pillay-van Wyk V. One in five South Africans are multimorbid: An analysis of the 2016 demographic and health survey. Pegoraro C, editor. PLOS ONE. 2022 May 26;17(5):e0269081
- 48. Hailey J. The Importance of Collaboration Between Community Health Workers and Clinical Care Teams [Internet]. [cited 2025 Mar 17]. Available from: https://www.theoncologynurse.com/issue-archive/2021/february-2021-vol-14-no-1/the-importance-of-collaboration-between-community-health-workers-and-clinical-care-teams
- 49. Franklin CM, Bernhardt JM, Lopez RP, Long-Middleton ER, Davis S. Interprofessional Teamwork and Collaboration Between Community Health Workers and Healthcare Teams: An Integrative Review. Health Serv Res Manag Epidemiol. 2015 Jan 1;2:2333392815573312.
- 50. World Health Organization [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 July 12]. Non communicable diseases. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases
- 51. Le Roux KW, Almirol E, Rezvan PH, Le Roux IM, Mbewu N, Dippenaar E, et al. Community health workers impact on maternal and child health outcomes in rural South Africa – a non-randomized two-group comparison study. BMC Public Health. 2020 Dec;20(1):1404.
- 52. Mottiar S, Lodge T. The role of community health workers in supporting South Africa's HIV/ AIDS treatment programme. Afr J AIDS Res. 2018 Jan 2;17(1):54–61.
- 53. Schleiff MJ, Aitken I, Alam MA, Damtew ZA, Perry HB. Community health workers at the dawn of a new era: 6. Recruitment, training, and continuing education. Health Res Policy Syst. 2021 Oct 12;19(S3):113.
- 54. Blondino C, Friedman L, Johnson I, Knoepflmacher A. Wiring the community health worker: A winning strategy for NCD care. 2023;
- 55. Mishra SR, Lygidakis C, Neupane D, Gyawali B, Uwizihiwe JP, Virani SS, et al. Combating non-communicable diseases: potentials and challenges for community health workers in a digital age, a narrative review of the literature. Health Policy Plan. 2019 Feb 1;34(1):55–66.
- 56. Braun R, Catalani C, Wimbush J, Israelski D. Community Health Workers and Mobile Technology: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Bullen C, editor. PLoS ONE. 2013 June 12;8(6):e65772.