| Course | DPH 870 Evidence-Based Practice and Advanced Research Methods |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 6 |
| Paper type | Synthesis matrix paper |
| Length | About 1,133 words, 7 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Aspen University |
| Program | Doctor of Public Health |
| Updated | September 2026 |
Free sample paper for DPH 870 Module 6
Seeing Across Studies: A Synthesis Matrix on Community Health Workers and Hypertension
Student Name
Doctor of Public Health Program, Aspen University
DPH 870: Evidence-Based Practice and Advanced Research Methods
Instructor Name
Month Day, Year
Seeing Across Studies: A Synthesis Matrix on Community Health Workers and Hypertension
A literature review that summarizes one study after another leaves readers to find the patterns themselves. Synthesis organizes evidence by theme, showing where studies agree, disagree and fall silent. A synthesis matrix makes this organization visible. This paper builds a synthesis matrix for a capstone review on whether community health workers improve care for adults with high blood pressure.
Summary Versus Synthesis
Summary describes what each study found. Synthesis compares findings across studies to answer the review question and identify patterns, explanations and gaps. In a synthesized review, paragraphs are organized by idea, and each paragraph draws on several studies.
Identifying Themes
Themes were developed by coding the findings of the 31 included studies, grouping codes into descriptive themes and then refining them into analytical themes that answer the review question. This approach adapts the thematic synthesis method Thomas and Harden (2008) developed for qualitative research, in which line-by-line coding leads to descriptive and then analytical themes.
The Matrix
The matrix crosses five themes with key studies, marking what each contributes.
| Theme | Brownstein et al., 2007 | Kangovi et al., 2018 | Jeet et al., 2017 | Capstone gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effect on blood pressure | Improved control in several studies | Chronic disease outcomes examined | Improvements in lower-income settings | Health department-run programs |
| Mechanisms | Adherence, appointment keeping | Tailored support for social needs | Screening and follow-up | Which components matter locally |
| Delivery models | Varied roles and training | Standardized model across practices | Government health worker programs | Routine public health staffing |
| Populations and equity | Mostly low-income, minority groups | Low-income patients | Rural and low-income areas | Urban neighborhoods with a life expectancy gap |
| Costs and sustainability | Limited data | Reduced hospital days | Limited data | Program costs from budgets |
Theme 1: Effect on Blood Pressure
Whatever the design, studies generally find better control or lower readings when community health workers are involved. A systematic review found improvements in control and related behaviors (Brownstein et al., 2007), and work in lower-income countries points the same way for noncommunicable disease control (Jeet et al., 2017). Using GRADE, certainty for this theme is judged moderate, lowered by varied study quality (Guyatt et al., 2008).
Theme 2: Mechanisms
Studies suggest community health workers act through medication adherence, appointment keeping, home monitoring and help with social needs such as transportation and food. A randomized trial of a standardized community health worker model emphasized tailoring support to patients' own goals and social needs (Kangovi et al., 2018). Few studies test which components matter most.
Theme 3: Delivery Models
Programs vary in who employs workers, their training, caseloads and integration with clinics. Programs integrated with primary care teams tend to report stronger clinical outcomes than stand-alone outreach. Evidence on programs run by public health departments is scarce. Caseloads ranged from about 20 to more than 80 participants per worker, a difference likely to affect intensity of support.
Theme 4: Populations and Equity
Most studies focus on low-income and minority populations facing barriers to care, the groups the capstone's program serves. Workers who share language and community with participants appear to build trust more quickly. Few studies report whether programs narrow disparities or only improve averages.
Theme 5: Costs and Sustainability
Cost evidence is limited. Some trials report reduced hospital use, which may offset program costs, but few studies report full costs or long-term funding. Sustainability depends on financing mechanisms such as Medicaid payment, which vary by state.
Contradictions
Findings on the size of effects vary widely, likely reflecting differences in programs, populations and measurement. Some studies report large reductions in systolic pressure, others modest ones. The review will explore these differences rather than averaging them away. Differences in how control was defined, for example 140/90 versus 130/80, also affect comparisons.
Gaps Revealed by Empty Cells
The matrix's final column shows where evidence is thin: health department-run programs, the components that matter in local settings, effects on disparities and full costs. These gaps define the capstone's contribution and will frame the argument in the review.
From Matrix to Outline
Each theme becomes a section of the literature review, and each row provides the studies and points for that section. The gaps column supplies the closing argument. Building the matrix first makes writing the review faster and ensures every paragraph synthesizes rather than summarizes.
Building the Matrix in Practice
The matrix began as a spreadsheet with one row per study and columns for design, population, intervention, outcomes and findings. After coding, the columns were reorganized into themes and the rows collapsed into key studies with supporting citations listed in notes. Building the matrix in stages made it manageable across 31 studies.
Weighting Within Themes
Within each theme, stronger studies are listed first and carry more weight in conclusions. A randomized trial showing an effect counts for more than several small uncontrolled evaluations. The matrix notes design and appraisal results beside each entry so that weighting is transparent.
Qualitative and Quantitative Together
The mechanisms theme draws heavily on qualitative studies of participants and workers, while the effects theme relies on trials and reviews. Integrating both in one matrix lets the review explain not only whether programs work but why, strengthening the argument for the capstone's mixed-methods design.
Certainty Across Themes
Certainty differs by theme. Evidence on effects is moderate; evidence on mechanisms and delivery models is low, based on fewer and more varied studies; evidence on costs is very low. Stating certainty for each theme prevents strong conclusions in one area from lending false confidence to others.
Updating the Matrix
As new studies are added through the updated search, each is coded and placed in the matrix. If new evidence changes a theme's conclusion or certainty, the matrix and the review text are revised together.
Sharing the Matrix
The matrix was shared with the committee chair before drafting. The chair suggested splitting delivery models into employer and training subthemes, which revealed that health department-employed workers were rare in the evidence, sharpening the capstone's contribution.
Presenting the Matrix
The full matrix appears in an appendix, while a condensed version with the five themes and key studies appears in the chapter. Readers can see the evidence structure at a glance, then consult the appendix for detail on any study.
From Themes to Implications
Each theme ends with an implication for the capstone. For example, the mechanisms theme suggests collecting visit-level data on which services participants received, so that the capstone can explore which components are linked to better outcomes.
Conclusion
A synthesis matrix organizes 31 studies into five themes, showing that community health workers improve blood pressure outcomes with moderate certainty, act through several mechanisms and vary in delivery. Empty cells reveal gaps in evidence on health department programs, equity and costs, giving the capstone a clear place in the literature and a ready outline for Chapter 2.
References
Brownstein, J. N., Chowdhury, F. M., Norris, S. L., Horsley, T., Jack, L., Zhang, X., & Satterfield, D. (2007). Effectiveness of community health workers in the care of people with hypertension. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 32(5), 435-447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2007.01.011
Guyatt, G. H., Oxman, A. D., Vist, G. E., Kunz, R., Falck-Ytter, Y., Alonso-Coello, P., & Schünemann, H. J. (2008). GRADE: An emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. BMJ, 336(7650), 924-926. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39489.470347.AD
Jeet, G., Thakur, J. S., Prinja, S., & Singh, M. (2017). Community health workers for non-communicable diseases prevention and control in developing countries: Evidence and implications. PLOS ONE, 12(7), Article e0180640. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180640
Kangovi, S., Mitra, N., Norton, L., Harte, R., Zhao, X., Carter, T., Grande, D., & Long, J. A. (2018). Effect of community health worker support on clinical outcomes of low-income patients across primary care facilities: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 178(12), 1635-1643. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4630
Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8, Article 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-45
Reading the DPH 870 Module 6 assignment instructions
Synthesizing the literature is central to Aspen's DPH 870 description, and the sixth module's instructions are withheld from the public, so this example builds a synthesis matrix. Synthesis assignments usually ask you to organize findings by theme, compare studies within themes and identify patterns and gaps. Code findings before naming themes. Build the matrix as a table. Discuss each theme across several studies. Rate certainty for each theme. Explain contradictions. Use empty cells to show gaps, and turn the matrix into the outline for your review so that every paragraph synthesizes rather than summarizes. Explain how the matrix will be kept current.
Inside the DPH 870 Module 6 example
The paper covers roughly a thousand words in twenty headings, beginning with summary versus synthesis and how themes were identified. A five-column matrix follows, then a section on each of the five themes. Contradictions, gaps revealed by empty cells and moving from matrix to outline come next. Building the matrix in practice, weighting within themes, combining qualitative and quantitative evidence, certainty across themes, updating, sharing with the chair, presenting the matrix and moving from themes to implications are added. A margin comment explains why summary and synthesis are distinguished first. Each theme's section draws on several studies at once, modeling the synthesis the review itself will use. The gap column is carried into the conclusion, where it becomes the capstone's rationale. A condensed matrix appears in the text and the full one in an appendix.
Where the marks sit in the DPH 870 Module 6 rubric
Synthesis papers are marked on clear themes, comparison across studies, attention to certainty and identification of gaps. This paper cites Thomas and Harden on thematic synthesis, the GRADE approach and three key studies on community health workers in APA style. The matrix makes patterns and gaps visible. Certainty is stated per theme. Contradictions are explained rather than hidden. Turning the matrix into an outline shows how synthesis drives writing, which graders appreciate. Its section on weighting within themes explains how stronger designs carry more influence, making the synthesis transparent. Qualitative and quantitative evidence are integrated in one matrix rather than kept apart. Implications for the capstone close each theme.
DPH 870 Module 6 help from the desk
Students often build matrices with one row per study that simply restate summaries. Others choose themes before reading. Code findings first. Organize by theme, not by study. Compare within each theme. Note certainty. Look for empty cells. If your themes overlap, a tutor can help you merge or split them. End with the gap your capstone fills, and share your draft matrix with your chair before writing so the review's structure is agreed early. Give each theme a one-sentence conclusion before you write its section. Update the matrix when new studies arrive. Keep themes to five or fewer.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Aspen University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
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DPH 870 Module 6 questions, answered
What does DPH 870 Module 6 usually ask for?
Aspen's DPH 870 builds toward the literature review, so a synthesis matrix organized by theme is typical. Follow your classroom prompt.
What is a synthesis matrix?
A table crossing themes with studies to show what each study contributes to each theme.
How is synthesis different from summary?
Summary describes each study; synthesis compares studies by theme to show patterns and gaps.
Where can I find a free DPH 870 Module 6 sample paper?
The synthesis matrix paper is posted above, with a table crossing five themes with key studies and a gap column.
How do you build a synthesis matrix in DPH 870 Module 6?
Code study findings, group them into themes, cross themes with studies in a table, rate certainty for each theme and note empty cells as gaps.