Resident Health Advocates on the Move (RHAM): Motivating Public Housing Residents to Use Health Van Screening Services

Boston University: Partners in Health and Housing Prevention Research Center

Topics:
Community Health | Diabetes | Oral Health

Residence in public housing is an indicator of financial need and health disparity. New motivational and recruitment strategies are needed to increase screening for chronic diseases in this population. The geographic cohesion and community identification characteristic of many public housing developments suggest a venue advantageous for addressing residents’ health needs.

Residents of two Boston-area public housing developments are receiving health screenings by using a mobile van called Healthy Connection. By going to public housing and offering low-cost services, the van attempts to remove the transportation and financial barriers to access preventive services. In this study, residents of housing developments chosen as intervention sites are paired against comparable control sites. The project will determine whether Resident Health Advocates (RHAs) and peer leaders are effective in increasing the participation of public housing residents in screening for hypertension, diabetes, and dental disease by using the mobile van. Researchers will also assess whether the RHAs are effective in increasing the clinical follow-up of residents referred for such follow-up.

The Partners in Health and Housing PRC includes the Boston University School of Public Health, Boston Housing Authority, Boston Public Health Commission, and the Community Committee for Health Promotion. All partners participated in planning this research project.

 

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