Can unlocking the potential of peripheral public health workers improve healthcare outcomes? A trial of intervention on enhancing elderly health literacy in China

Abstract

Despite increased policy attention and resource allocation by governments worldwide, the mismatch between the supply and demand for healthcare workers continues to worsen. This study broadens the definition of public healthcare personnel by exploring the potential role of peripheral health workers in delivering public health services, aiming to offer a broader perspective for addressing the challenges posed by the healthcare workforce crisis. This study designed and implemented a community intervention trial aimed at evaluating the role of community committee members as peripheral public health workers in enhancing the health literacy of the elderly. A total of 22 urban communities in China were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received health education training for community committee members, while the control group did not receive any additional interventions. Following the intervention, a survey was conducted to assess the health literacy levels of elderly residents in both groups. The results indicate that elderly participants in the intervention group scored significantly higher across all dimensions and sub-dimensions of health literacy compared to those in the control group. These finding suggest that community committee members, acting as peripheral public health workers, play a significant role in enhancing health literacy within their communities. Our research provides valuable insights for countries and regions facing shortages of healthcare professionals, offering a human resource strategy for enhancing health literacy management and strengthening primary healthcare systems to achieve universal health coverage.