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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Richard W. Wilson, DHSc, MPH, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576, 270-745-6397, Richard.Wilson@wku.edu, Lisa L. Lindley, DrPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101, and J. David Dunn, DSc, School of Health & Human Services, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101.
In the spring of 2001, a survey was conducted to assess the training needs of Kentucky public health educators in specific skills essential to public health education practice. The questionnaire was developed by the research team, with assistance from personnel at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, and through focus groups conducted with local public health educators. The instrument included demographic and descriptive information, perceived level of mastery of recognized core competencies of public health educators, desire for additional training, and preferred format of training. A mailing list of current public health educators was obtained from state and local public health agencies. The questionnaire was mailed with a cover letter inviting public health educators to participate in the study, an informational sheet describing the study's purpose, a separate form to report personal and demographic information, and a return self-addressed, stamped envelope. Two weeks later, a reminder post card was mailed. In total, 366 completed questionnaires were returned. Results of the survey provide a descriptive profile (including degrees, certifications, years of experience, etc.) of health educators working in the state of Kentucky and pinpoint their self-reported competency deficiencies. Desire for additional training was widespread. Grant writing, program planning, budgeting, evaluation, and cross-cultural issues were identified most frequently as competencies in which more training was needed. This session will provide a complete overview of survey results and make recommendations about targeting training to these public health educators. Methodological issues will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.