Implementing a research best practices training for community health workers & promotoras at multiple sites: A mixed methods evaluation

Introduction:We previously developed and tested a peer-led research best practices training for community health workers and promotoras (CHW/Ps) to enhance the capacity of a workforce that is increasingly important for community-engaged research.This paper explores results of training implementation at 4 additional sites -3 academic institutions and 1 community-based organization.Methods: Forty-two CHW/Ps were trained over 6 trainings and 10 site staff participated.We used a mixed methods design consisting of surveys and interviews to assess site staff's perceptions of the training and its implementation.Survey data were examined using basic statistics and thematic content analysis.Two coders analyzed the interviews inductively then deductively by mapping codes onto the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).Survey and interview results were integrated using a joint display to identify meta-inferences. Results: Surveys of staff quantitatively demonstrated high acceptance, appropriateness, and feasibility of the peer-led research best practices training for CHW/Ps.Several qualitative themes emerged that aligned with CFIR domains, highlighting perceptions of the training and factors related to its implementation.Meta-inferences revealed staff's perspectives about implementing the training were influenced by characteristics of the training and implementation sites, learner engagement and compensation strategies, and implementation processes.Conclusion: The peer-led research best practices training for CHW/Ps is acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for implementation by academic and community-based organizations, particularly due to the flexibility of how it was designed.While successful implementation at all sites requires engaged Champion peer facilitators, other needs to support implementation vary based on site characteristics and environment.