Team attendance in short-term educational programs has long been touted as a good thing. The assumption is that team members have more support than solo participants to put ideas into practice on return to the work environment. A review of the literature in health education finds disappointingly little research to back this assumption. Much of what does exist is centered around the Seaside Conference. This study contributes to the team attendance discussion by analyzing data from participants (n=1356) who attended one-day trainings in substance abuse prevention. One-way ANOVA was used to predict post-program learning application based on participant attendance status: (1) alone; (2) part of a team; or (3) with others, but not as a team. Results showed a significant difference between those who attended as a team and those who attended with others, but not as a team; it also showed a significant difference between team attendance and solo attendance. These findings held in separate analysis for health professionals and community representatives. A multiple regression model explained 39% of post-program application when team attendance was included along with perceived usefulness of the training, organizational support, and intent to apply learning. Team attendance and other contextual factors can work together to support post-training learning application. Let the touting continue.
Learning Objectives: 1. to identify key studies about the effects of team attendance on learning application 2. to describe ways in which team attendance can influence training outcomes 3. to explore other individual and joint contributions of team attendance and other contextual variables on training outcomes
Keywords: Evaluation, Training
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: this research came out of data from the former office of training and evaluation within the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, SAMHSA. The office no longer exists
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.