There is scarce evidence on interventions leveraging personal strengths to help community health workers (CHWs) respond to work stress in low-resource settings. Our study describes the reflections from pilot of positive-psychology based coaching intervention for rural (female) CHWs in India, as part of a randomized control trial. Three batches of CHWs (n=35) received a 5-day residential workshop by two ‘facilitators’, supported by two coaches. Content was divided into four modules, including various character strengths-based strategies (e.g., ‘strengths habit’, ‘positive reappraisal with strengths’ and ‘three good things’) along with mindfulness, emotional regulation, prioritization and goal-setting. Challenges included: gradual participant engagement (pre-conceived notions about the workshop being a ‘typical training’), slower content absorption (for multi-step strategies), distractions (health issues, menstrual cramps, worries about family members/child at home), and individual factors (low literacy/reading skills). The intervention team used morning revision-sessions, energizers (games or stretching exercises), roleplays/group discussions, and end-of-the-day activities (music) to enhance participation. Pre- and post-workshop assessments revealed a 15% improvement in knowledge scores. About 82% of CHWs found the workshop satisfactory, and 75% found its content usable across work-life domains. After the workshop, CHWs received weekly telephonic support calls by the coaches for 8 weeks. CHWs perceived these calls as a ‘space’ to discuss their challenges, which also helped the coaches to tailor their strategies. This study illustrates a mix of face-to-face and remote coaching methods to enable rural CHWs to cope with work-stress. Further research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing burnout, and replicability in similar global settings.

Authors:
Azaz Khan, Sangath, India
Lochan Sharma, Sangath, India
Deepak Tugnawat, Sangath, India
Ameya Bondre, Sangath, India

About the Presenter(s)
Lochan is an Anthropologist and a Public Health Researcher, and is a currently working as Intervention Coordinator at Sangath, Bhopal (India). Her research interests lie in the field of mental health, care inequities, gender and health policies.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lochan-sharma-31011993/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

Bookmark