Keeping Records on AMIGAS Activities

Overview

It will be helpful to keep track of what happened in your AMIGAS sessions. Use the contact sheet to keep track of the main things the women said. Make sure you know what to do next to help each participant.

Why record keeping is important

It is important for you as a community health worker because:

• You can use this information to think about ways to make your sessions better.
• You can use the information to remember what participants said.
• Keeping track of your activities gives your administrators evidence of the important work you have done.

It is important for your organization because:

• Keeping track of your activities helps administrators make the program better.
• Your organization can use this information to help get better health services for women.
• Your organization can use this information to raise money for the program.

After a session

• Gather all of the contact sheets and make sure that the top portion (Personal Information Summary) has been completed correctly by each participant. During a session, the first part of the contact sheet is completed to document a woman's current thinking about getting screened for cervical cancer.
• If you haven't done so already, complete the first two lines of the Follow-Up portion of the contact sheet. The remainder of this section, shown as "Notes" on the form, is completed when follow-up communications take place.
• Keep these contact sheets in a safe place so that you know where to find them for adding follow-up notes later.
• In addition to keeping this form for yourself, your supervisor may also wish to have a copy. Check with your program administrator.

1 to 2 days later

• Contact each woman and thank her for talking with you.
• Congratulate her for being concerned about her health.
• Ask her if she needs any more information or would like to talk more.
• Ask her if she would like help making an appointment to get screened.
• Make notes of the date and the main details of your conversation.

In the following weeks

• If the woman is planning to get screened, ask if she made an appointment.
• If the woman has a screening appointment, congratulate her.
• After her appointment date, ask if she had her screening test. Ask her how it went and if she has any questions.
• Contact her again to be sure she got her test results and that she understands them.
• Tell her now that it is important for her to plan to be screened regularly. Suggest that she record it in her calendar or phone. This will remind her to make an appointment. Brainstorm other ways to help her remember to get screened regularly.
• Answer her questions as best as you can. If you need more information to help her, talk with your supervisor.
• If the woman is not planning to get screened, ask if she would be interested in talking with you again.
• Make notes of the date and the main details of your conversation.