Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106023

Lorraine K. Alexander, DrPH¹, Jennifer A. Horney, MPH², and Pia D.M. MacDonald, PhD, MPH¹. (1) Department of Epidemiology / North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 8165, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8165, (2) North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 8165, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8165, 919-843-5566, jen.horney@unc.edu

A strong public health infrastructure with a well-prepared workforce is critical in preparing for and responding to threats of terrorism, infectious disease, and other public health emergencies. It is well documented that the US public health workforce is undertrained and unprepared to handle public health emergencies. Workforce training is often impacted by limited budgets, overloaded schedules, and travel restrictions. To overcome these barriers and meet the need for training, the North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness (NCCPHP) in the North Carolina Institute for Public Health at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health established a free training website. This website provides immediate access to more than 100 bioterrorism and public health preparedness trainings developed by NCCPHP, and more from other providers. Each 30- to 60-minute training includes a narrated slide presentation with streaming audio and interactive quiz developed by a content expert. A short registration is required to access trainings. Learners who complete trainings immediately receive a personalized certificate for continuing education units. Since February 2003, the site has logged more than 120,000 visits and has 103,000 registered users from all 50 states and 107 foreign countries. 1,000 certificates of completion have been issued. Nearly 80% of training completers rate the trainings as very good or excellent in timeliness, practicality, and relevance to their job. Nearly 100% report that the trainings met the stated educational objectives. This training website can serve as a successful model of using distance learning to deliver just-in-time training to public health professionals.

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

• Describe the ways in which the North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness developed and implemented a training Web site.
• Describe the results of an evaluation of the training site, including user satisfaction and learning outcomes.
• Identify advantages of using an Internet-based format to deliver preparedness training for public health professionals.

Keywords: Distance Learning, Workforce

Related Web page: www.sph.unc.edu/nccphp/training/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.