Equipping the Public Health Workforce of the Future: Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Public Health Training Delivered Through Academic-Health Department Partnerships

Abstract

Objective: Maintaining a skilled public health workforce is essential but challenging given high turnover and that few staff hold a public health degree. Situating workforce development within existing structures leverages the strengths of different organizations and can build relationships to address public health challenges and health equity. We implemented and evaluated an innovative, sustainable model to deliver an established evidence-based public health (EBPH) training collaboratively among Prevention Research Centers (PRC), local and state health departments, and Public Health Training Centers (PHTC). Design: Quantitative data: quasi-experimental, 1-group pre-post. Qualitative data: cross-sectional. Data were collected between December 2021 and August 2022. Setting: Four US sites, each a partnership between a PRC, local or state health department, and a PHTC. Participants: Governmental public health staff and representatives from other organizations that implement public health programs in practice settings. Main Outcome Measures: Course participants completed a pre- and postcourse survey self-rating 14 skills on a 5-point Likert scale. Differences were analyzed using mixed effects linear models. In-depth interviews (n = 15) were conducted with course faculty and partners to understand: (1) resources contributed, (2) barriers and facilitators, (3) benefits and challenges, and (4) resources needed to sustain this model. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis identified themes. Results: Statistically significant increases in all skills were observed from pre- to postcourse (n = 241 at post, 90% response). The skills with the largest increases were understanding economic evaluation enough to inform decision-making (mean change = 1.22, standard error [SE] = 0.05) and developing an action plan (mean change = 1.07, SE = 0.07). Facilitators to delivering the course included having a shared goal of workforce development, existing course curricula, and dedicated funding for delivering the course. Conclusions: Collaborative delivery of the EBPH training can ameliorate the effects of high staff turnover, strengthen academic-practice relationships, and promote population-wide health and health equity.