Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among medical (nurses, physicians, residents)... more Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among medical (nurses, physicians, residents) and mental health providers (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers), there continues to be a lack of attention on the well‐ being of community‐based providers, such as Community Health Workers (CHWs), within the United States. Using cross‐sectional data from 75 CHWs employed in 14 agencies funded through the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaboratives Initiative (MICHC) in New York, our study examined predictors (anxiety, physical health, adverse childhood experiences, job satisfaction, role certainty, demographic and work characteristics) of burnout, compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction (CS). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our sample and linear regression was employed to investigate the correlates of burnout, CF and CS. Results indicated that CHWs with higher levels of anxiety and lower job satisfaction were more likely to have higher burnout scores. CHWs with higher levels of anxiety, lower job satisfaction and fewer days of poorer health were more likely to report higher CF. Those who worked more than 35 h per week were less likely to report higher CS. The study provides recommendations for organizational‐level interventions to address risk factors of burnout and CF and promote CS among CHWs, such as bolstering supervision, encouraging greater communication, offering recognition/ appreciation of CHWs and creating opportunities for self‐ care. Findings should be considered when designing organizational‐level preventive measures that mitigate burnout and CF and promote CS.
The Affordable Care Act mandates that public health data be made available for community agency u... more The Affordable Care Act mandates that public health data be made available for community agency use. Having access to such data allows community agencies to tailor interventions, evaluations, and funding requests more effectively. This study, jointly undertaken by Syracuse University faculty and students with the New York State Perinatal Association, sought to understand community agencies' access to requests for governmental data, as well as to identify areas for improving data access. Results from this survey of administrators from 43 agencies in New York State found that only one-half of their requests for data were successful. Difficulties in obtaining access to needed data included fiscal and staffing constraints of the state-level agencies that house the data, as well as possible overinterpretation of confidentiality policies. In addition, some of community agency respondents reported that their staff lacked skills in data analysis and would benefit from training in epidemiology and quantitative evaluation.
Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program... more Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program. There is substantial regional and state-based variability in the population served by CHWs, their disease focus, and availability of training, supervision, and other supports. This article seeks to respond to the call in the literature to work collaboratively with CHW professional associations to identify, reflect, and respond to CHW workforce development and sustainability issues. We partnered with 8 member organizations of the Association of Perinatal Networks of New York and conducted 2 focus groups with 7 executive directors and 6 supervisors. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Policy barriers included funding, accessibility of evidence-based practices, and credentialing. Organizational barriers included recruitment and high turnover and interorganizational referral processes and management. This study offers recommendations for supports needed to sustain CHWs, with an emphasis on greater investment in recruitment and training, higher compensation, and interorganizational collaboration.
Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among
medical (nurses, physicians, residents)... more Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among medical (nurses, physicians, residents) and mental health providers (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers), there continues to be a lack of attention on the well‐ being of community‐based providers, such as Community Health Workers (CHWs), within the United States. Using cross‐sectional data from 75 CHWs employed in 14 agencies funded through the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaboratives Initiative (MICHC) in New York, our study examined predictors (anxiety, physical health, adverse childhood experiences, job satisfaction, role certainty, demographic and work characteristics) of burnout, compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction (CS). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our sample and linear regression was employed to investigate the correlates of burnout, CF and CS. Results indicated that CHWs with higher levels of anxiety and lower job satisfaction were more likely to have higher burnout scores. CHWs with higher levels of anxiety, lower job satisfaction and fewer days of poorer health were more likely to report higher CF. Those who worked more than 35 h per week were less likely to report higher CS. The study provides recommendations for organizational‐level interventions to address risk factors of burnout and CF and promote CS among CHWs, such as bolstering supervision, encouraging greater communication, offering recognition/ appreciation of CHWs and creating opportunities for self‐ care. Findings should be considered when designing organizational‐level preventive measures that mitigate burnout and CF and promote CS.
Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program... more Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program. There is substantial regional and state-based variability in the population served by CHWs, their disease focus, and availability of training, supervision, and other supports. This article seeks to respond to the call in the literature to work collaboratively with CHW professional associations to identify, reflect, and respond to CHW workforce development and sustainabil ity issues. We partnered with 8 member organizations of the Association of Perinatal Networks of New York and conducted 2 focus groups with 7 executive directors and 6 supervisors. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Policy barriers included funding, accessibility of evidence based practices, and credentialing. Organizational barriers included recruitment and high turnover and interorganizational referral processes and management. This study offers recommendations for supports needed to sustain CHWs, with an emphasis on greater investment in recruitment and training, higher compensation, and interorganizational collaboration.
Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among medical (nurses, physicians, residents)... more Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among medical (nurses, physicians, residents) and mental health providers (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers), there continues to be a lack of attention on the well‐ being of community‐based providers, such as Community Health Workers (CHWs), within the United States. Using cross‐sectional data from 75 CHWs employed in 14 agencies funded through the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaboratives Initiative (MICHC) in New York, our study examined predictors (anxiety, physical health, adverse childhood experiences, job satisfaction, role certainty, demographic and work characteristics) of burnout, compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction (CS). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our sample and linear regression was employed to investigate the correlates of burnout, CF and CS. Results indicated that CHWs with higher levels of anxiety and lower job satisfaction were more likely to have higher burnout scores. CHWs with higher levels of anxiety, lower job satisfaction and fewer days of poorer health were more likely to report higher CF. Those who worked more than 35 h per week were less likely to report higher CS. The study provides recommendations for organizational‐level interventions to address risk factors of burnout and CF and promote CS among CHWs, such as bolstering supervision, encouraging greater communication, offering recognition/ appreciation of CHWs and creating opportunities for self‐ care. Findings should be considered when designing organizational‐level preventive measures that mitigate burnout and CF and promote CS.
The Affordable Care Act mandates that public health data be made available for community agency u... more The Affordable Care Act mandates that public health data be made available for community agency use. Having access to such data allows community agencies to tailor interventions, evaluations, and funding requests more effectively. This study, jointly undertaken by Syracuse University faculty and students with the New York State Perinatal Association, sought to understand community agencies' access to requests for governmental data, as well as to identify areas for improving data access. Results from this survey of administrators from 43 agencies in New York State found that only one-half of their requests for data were successful. Difficulties in obtaining access to needed data included fiscal and staffing constraints of the state-level agencies that house the data, as well as possible overinterpretation of confidentiality policies. In addition, some of community agency respondents reported that their staff lacked skills in data analysis and would benefit from training in epidemiology and quantitative evaluation.
Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program... more Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program. There is substantial regional and state-based variability in the population served by CHWs, their disease focus, and availability of training, supervision, and other supports. This article seeks to respond to the call in the literature to work collaboratively with CHW professional associations to identify, reflect, and respond to CHW workforce development and sustainability issues. We partnered with 8 member organizations of the Association of Perinatal Networks of New York and conducted 2 focus groups with 7 executive directors and 6 supervisors. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Policy barriers included funding, accessibility of evidence-based practices, and credentialing. Organizational barriers included recruitment and high turnover and interorganizational referral processes and management. This study offers recommendations for supports needed to sustain CHWs, with an emphasis on greater investment in recruitment and training, higher compensation, and interorganizational collaboration.
Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among
medical (nurses, physicians, residents)... more Although burnout has been increasingly well studied among medical (nurses, physicians, residents) and mental health providers (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers), there continues to be a lack of attention on the well‐ being of community‐based providers, such as Community Health Workers (CHWs), within the United States. Using cross‐sectional data from 75 CHWs employed in 14 agencies funded through the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaboratives Initiative (MICHC) in New York, our study examined predictors (anxiety, physical health, adverse childhood experiences, job satisfaction, role certainty, demographic and work characteristics) of burnout, compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction (CS). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our sample and linear regression was employed to investigate the correlates of burnout, CF and CS. Results indicated that CHWs with higher levels of anxiety and lower job satisfaction were more likely to have higher burnout scores. CHWs with higher levels of anxiety, lower job satisfaction and fewer days of poorer health were more likely to report higher CF. Those who worked more than 35 h per week were less likely to report higher CS. The study provides recommendations for organizational‐level interventions to address risk factors of burnout and CF and promote CS among CHWs, such as bolstering supervision, encouraging greater communication, offering recognition/ appreciation of CHWs and creating opportunities for self‐ care. Findings should be considered when designing organizational‐level preventive measures that mitigate burnout and CF and promote CS.
Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program... more Within the United States, there is an absence of a national community health worker (CHW) program. There is substantial regional and state-based variability in the population served by CHWs, their disease focus, and availability of training, supervision, and other supports. This article seeks to respond to the call in the literature to work collaboratively with CHW professional associations to identify, reflect, and respond to CHW workforce development and sustainabil ity issues. We partnered with 8 member organizations of the Association of Perinatal Networks of New York and conducted 2 focus groups with 7 executive directors and 6 supervisors. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Policy barriers included funding, accessibility of evidence based practices, and credentialing. Organizational barriers included recruitment and high turnover and interorganizational referral processes and management. This study offers recommendations for supports needed to sustain CHWs, with an emphasis on greater investment in recruitment and training, higher compensation, and interorganizational collaboration.
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Papers by Sharon Chesna
medical (nurses, physicians, residents) and mental health
providers (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers),
there continues to be a lack of attention on the well‐
being of community‐based providers, such as Community
Health Workers (CHWs), within the United States. Using
cross‐sectional data from 75 CHWs employed in 14
agencies funded through the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaboratives Initiative (MICHC) in New York,
our study examined predictors (anxiety, physical health,
adverse childhood experiences, job satisfaction, role
certainty, demographic and work characteristics) of burnout, compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction
(CS). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our
sample and linear regression was employed to investigate
the correlates of burnout, CF and CS. Results indicated that
CHWs with higher levels of anxiety and lower job
satisfaction were more likely to have higher burnout
scores. CHWs with higher levels of anxiety, lower job
satisfaction and fewer days of poorer health were more
likely to report higher CF. Those who worked more than
35 h per week were less likely to report higher CS. The
study provides recommendations for organizational‐level interventions to address risk factors of burnout and CF and
promote CS among CHWs, such as bolstering supervision,
encouraging greater communication, offering recognition/
appreciation of CHWs and creating opportunities for self‐
care. Findings should be considered when designing
organizational‐level preventive measures that mitigate
burnout and CF and promote CS.
medical (nurses, physicians, residents) and mental health
providers (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers),
there continues to be a lack of attention on the well‐
being of community‐based providers, such as Community
Health Workers (CHWs), within the United States. Using
cross‐sectional data from 75 CHWs employed in 14
agencies funded through the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaboratives Initiative (MICHC) in New York,
our study examined predictors (anxiety, physical health,
adverse childhood experiences, job satisfaction, role
certainty, demographic and work characteristics) of burnout, compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction
(CS). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our
sample and linear regression was employed to investigate
the correlates of burnout, CF and CS. Results indicated that
CHWs with higher levels of anxiety and lower job
satisfaction were more likely to have higher burnout
scores. CHWs with higher levels of anxiety, lower job
satisfaction and fewer days of poorer health were more
likely to report higher CF. Those who worked more than
35 h per week were less likely to report higher CS. The
study provides recommendations for organizational‐level interventions to address risk factors of burnout and CF and
promote CS among CHWs, such as bolstering supervision,
encouraging greater communication, offering recognition/
appreciation of CHWs and creating opportunities for self‐
care. Findings should be considered when designing
organizational‐level preventive measures that mitigate
burnout and CF and promote CS.