Developing undergraduate public health informatics competencies through asthma care content

Purpose: To develop undergraduate student public health informatics competencies.

Background: Educators are challenged by the Institute of Medicine Health Professions Education report to provide learning experiences integrating informatics. Efforts such as Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) are addressing the challenge, however, information on teaching content, methods and evaluation are lacking. This presentation describes an educational pilot integrating state public health asthma initiatives into undergraduate informatics course content.

Method: An undergraduate web-based course, Health Informatics: Clinical and Public Health, was adapted by two nursing faculty and a state health department asthma coordinator. The coauthors designed and completed a matrix mapping informatics topics to asthma exemplars. The course is being implemented and evaluated with a pilot group of undergraduate students (n=13). Process evaluation using “muddiest point” narratives and mid-term evaluation and outcome evaluation using pre-post confidence logs and review of student assignments will inform future course improvements.

Results: Course informatics content was readily matched to extant population-based asthma initiatives and resources. Internet resources such as national asthma management practice guidelines and interactive education modules (Coaches Asthma Clipboard) were linked to topics on research, evidence based practice, and information quality/ credibility. Standardized language documentation (Omaha System) and pathways were linked to data standards, interoperability, and software applications. Electronic asthma action plans and air quality index emergency communications were linked to Public Health Information Systems and communication and management of information.

Discussion: Using asthma informatics resources effectively operationalized theoretical learning within a meaningful public health problem context. An academic-practice collaboration can be invaluable to the teaching-learning experience in the rapidly emerging field of informatics. Mapping core informatics content to exemplars in state and local public health enhances student engagement in informatics content. Together faculty and public health leaders can prepare students for their future roles in informatics supported public health systems.