Abstracts

Rationale: People with epilepsy face barriers in accessing health care and community-based services that result in significant disparities in health and social outcomes. Along with seizures, this population suffers from comorbid mental and physical illness, disability, unemployment, transportation restrictions, and stigma. _x000D_ Evidence supports use of Community Health Workers (CHW) for assistance in the delivery of coordinated medical and social services, self-management, and in reducing disparities. The 2012 Institute of Medicine’s Report on Epilepsy noted nontraditional health providers, including CHW, offer untapped opportunities for improving outcomes in epilepsy.

Methods: To create regional capacity for CHW integration in epilepsy care, virtual training was developed based on the CDC Community Health Worker's Curriculum for Epilepsy Self-Management. Live interactive training was delivered by faculty via a secure online platform and included modules, Overview of Epilepsy and Seizures, Living with Epilepsy and Managing Epilepsy. Training promotion, accreditation and evaluation was done in partnership with New Hampshire Area Health Education Centers. Training opportunities were shared with community and state health organizations throughout Northern New England.

Results: Participants registered (n=83) included CHWs, social workers, nurses, family support coordinators, public health nurse coordinators and health educational advocates. Combined data from participants who completed training (n=74) and post training evaluation (n=56) indicated that 100% of those participating in training and post-training evaluation felt (strongly agreed/agreed) the presentation of training materials was effective, the information in the training was important and the objectives of the session were achieved. 98% of participants felt (strongly agreed/agreed) their knowledge on epilepsy and self-management had increased. 100% of participants responded they would recommend this training to others. 73% of trainees had a 4-year college degree or above. Trainee workplace included hospital/clinic, community-based organization, state health department, school. Trainee pool included those from sites designated community health center (16%), FQHC (22%), migrant health center (5%), NHCS (11%) and medically underserved community (8%). 42% of trainees identified as practicing in a rural setting and 31% as practicing in urban or suburban underserved or safety-net setting. 64% of trainees identified as working with people with low socio-economic status. Post training evaluation comments indicated interest in ongoing epilepsy training.

Conclusions: This pilot implementation of CHW training demonstrated a spectrum of trainees with varied educational backgrounds and workplace settings desiring accessible epilepsy education. Early results indicate high user satisfaction with educational content and the ability to reach CHWs serving vulnerable populations. Virtual trainings are a cost-effective way to provide education for CHWs to aid in improving outcomes for people with epilepsy. Additional implementation and evaluation studies ongoing.

Funding: Please list any funding that was received in support of this abstract.: Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - U48DP006381-02-01 SIP 20-006.