What do systematic reviews say?

Lay health worker‐ vs enhanced usual care

It is very uncertain whether lay health worker‐led interventions changes functional impairment (1 to 6 months post intervention) compared with enhanced usual care (very low certainty).

• Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 121 participants
  Very low

Lay health worker‐led interventions for adult patients with harmful or hazardous alcohol or substance use vs enhanced usual care

• Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 498 participants
  Low

Lay health worker‐led psychosocial interventions vs usual care or no treatment

• Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 1092 participants
  Moderate

Lay health worker‐led psychological interventions vs usual care

• Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 1914 participants
  Very low

Lay health worker‐led psychological interventions vs usual care

Lay health worker‐led psychological interventions showed no clear difference in functional impairment/disability ‐ intermediate term (1 to 6 months… compared with usual care (low certainty).

• Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 1399 participants
  Low

Lay health worker‐led psychosocial interventions vs enhanced usual care

Lay health worker‐led psychosocial interventions showed no clear difference in functional impairment ‐ intermediate term (1 to 6 months post… compared with enhanced usual care (low certainty).

• Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 1856 participants
  Low

Primary health professionals and lay health workers vs usual care

• Primary‐level worker interventions for the care of people living with mental disorders and distress in low‐ and… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 81 participants
  Very low