The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44107

Sharon Clark Talboys, MPH, Community and Family Health Services, Data Resources Program, Department of Health, State of Utah, P.O. Box 142001, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2001, 801-538-6444, sharontalboys@utah.gov, Joyce R. Gaufin, BS, Division of Health Care Financing, Utah Department of Health, P.O. Box 143105, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-3105, Shaheen Hossain, PhD, Community & Family Health Services, Data Resources Program, Utah Department of Health, P.O.Box 142001, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2001, Dagan A Wright, MSPH, Department of Health Promotion and Education and Intermountain, University of Utah and Injury Control Research Center, 1070 East 300 South # 209, Salt Lake City, UT 84102, and A. Richard Melton, DrPH, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Health, 288 N 1460 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84114.

Purpose: To measure the change in public health knowledge, buy-in, and self-efficacy of health department employees before and after APH training. Methodology: Of about 1200 staff, 150 employees were randomly selected and assigned to an intervention or a control group. A formal evaluation was conducted using pre and post-tests, including questions which retrospectively assess the learner’s perceived change. Questionnaires were completed before and after the training for both groups. Analysis: Preliminary results using SPSS indicate that the intervention and control groups were comparable before the training. A substantial change was observed in the intervention group compared to the control group at the post-tests. Results: Although preliminary, there is evidence that the Adventures in Public Health training had a positive effect on employees in three domains, knowledge, buy-in, and self-efficacy. Those who received training increased their self-efficacy score by 19% compared to 2% in the control group. When participants retrospectively assessed themselves, the intervention group’s self-efficacy scores increased by 23% compared to 2% in the control group. Although pre and post-test scores remained about the same for both the intervention and control groups in the “buy-in” domain, the retrospective self-assessment scores increased 16% compared to 2% in the control group. More results, including ability to define public health, recognize public health activities, and general knowledge about public health are forthcoming. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that Adventures in Public Health is effective in increasing the learner’s confidence in understanding, describing, and applying public health concepts. It also had a modest, but positive effect on “buy-in”, or motivation,regarding public health.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

1.Understand and gain insight on the characteristics of the public health workforce that have both positive and negative associations with three public health learning domains (knowledge, motivation, and self-efficacy).
• Assess the need for using Adventures in Public Health training in their agency by recognizing potential benefits and limitations. 3.Apply evaluation methodology used in this evaluation to other workforce development training.

Keywords: Workforce, Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Utah Department of Health
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.