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Community health workers (CHWs) have contributed to chronic kidney disease (CKD) care across different regions of the world. This scoping review examines CHWs' contributions to CKD care by identifying and analyzing published scientific literature on this topic.
Authors conducted keyword searches in multiple bibliographic databases: PubMed, Cabi Global Health, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO Until 13 June 2022. Primary studies describing CHWs' contributions to the CKD care system were included in this scoping review.
We followed Arksey & O'Malley's five-step framework: identifying research questions, identifying relevant studies, selecting studies, data charting, and summarizing and reporting findings for conducting analysis and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) extension for reporting findings.
A total of 23 studies from 10 different countries were included in this scoping review. The findings showed that CHWs were successfully involved in CKD care in three principal domains: (1) CKD diagnosis and related physical screening (conducting physical examination, CKD screening, heling in organizing CKD screening events and community buy-ins of those) (2) delivering health education, and (3) patient navigation into the healthcare system and improved patients' health outcomes and care access. CHWs communicated with CKD patients mostly in home or clinic environments, followed by community settings and via telecommunications. Most studies mentioned that CHWs received CKD-specific training before their involvement with these patients.
This scoping review shows that CHWs have an opportunity to be more involved in CKD care. CHWs may be crucial in establishing global kidney health equity. However, more systematic research, funding, and attention to policy issues will be required to establish a sustainable CKD care model that includes CHWs.