Sisters of Heart: community health worker support to improve heart health in migrant farmworker women
Sisters of Heart (Hermanas de Corazón): A Community Health Worker Initiative for Improving Heart Health in Migrant Farmworker Women
This trial tests whether peer support and help accessing community resources from community health workers can reduce stress and improve heart health measures in Spanish- or English-speaking migrant farmworker women aged 18–45.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 269 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Emory University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ellenton, Georgia) |
| Trial ID | NCT07111026 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial compares a CHW-led peer support and resource-navigation program (Sisters of Heart/Hermanas de Corazón) with a Basic intervention that provides an LE8 assessment and resource information. Participants are assigned to one of the two interventions and followed to measure changes in psychological well-being, social isolation, access to social resources, and cardiometabolic health using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score. The intervention focuses on improving social support and addressing social determinants of health through individualized navigation and peer connection in a rural, low-income migrant farmworker population. Outcomes include changes in stress, social connectedness, resource use, and composite CVH measures over the study period.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are self-identified female migrant farmworkers aged 18–45 who speak Spanish or English and plan to remain in the local area for at least six months, who are able to provide informed consent and participate actively.
Not a fit: Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have cognitive or psychiatric impairment that prevents informed consent or participation, or cannot remain in the area for the required follow-up are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower stress and improve lifestyle and cardiometabolic risk scores, potentially reducing future heart disease and pregnancy-related complications in this underserved population.
How similar studies have performed: Community health worker and peer-support programs have previously improved blood pressure control, diabetes management, and social support in underserved groups, but applying this model specifically to migrant farmworker women and measuring effects with the LE8 framework is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Self-identified female employed as a migrant farmworker; * Fluent in Spanish or English verbal literacy * Planning to be in the geographic area for a minimum of 6 months. Exclusion Criteria: * Cognitive or psychological impairment precluding informed consent and/or active participation in the study due to substance use, neurologic, or other disorder * Pregnant or breastfeeding.
Where this trial is running
Ellenton, Georgia
- Southern GA - Colquitt County — Ellenton, Georgia, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Erin Ferranti, PhD — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Erin Ferranti, PhD
- Email: epoe@emory.edu
- Phone: 404-712-9551
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.