IFPHOR0206 Community Health Workers as Field Infodemiologists: A Data Collection Toolkit Pilot in New York City

Community Health Workers (CHWs) in New York City encounter client concerns daily, including misinformation, eligibility confusion, and barriers to accessing benefits. Despite this, few mechanisms exist to systematically capture what CHWs observe, leaving most insights anecdotal and limiting opportunities to improve services and communication strategies.This project piloted a practical toolkit to embed field infodemiology methods into CHW practice, turning everyday interactions into structured evidence for programme and policy decisions.The toolkit was developed through co-creation workshops where CHWs selected approaches that fit their existing workflows. The final design combined weekly structured entries on Microsoft Teams with facilitated monthly group reflections. A synthesis process produced short insights reports shared with bureau leadership.CHWs completed weekly entries with minimal burden. Monthly reflections added context that made findings more robust. The reports surfaced recurring challenges including complex eligibility processes, inconsistent information, long waitlists, and limited service availability, alongside enabling factors such as CHW-client trust, co-located services, and peer support.Key lessons included the importance of co-creation for feasibility, using platforms already familiar to staff, and timely synthesis so findings reach decision makers when relevant.The model is adaptable beyond New York City, offering a replicable approach to generating community-driven evidence that makes health systems more responsive and equitable.