Trends in State Epidemiologic Capacity: Results from the 2009 Epidemiology Capacity Assessment

Since 2001, CSTE has been performing periodic assessments of epidemiology capacity (ECA) at state health departments. They have provided baseline measurements of ability to perform core epidemiology functions, a basis for estimation of additional epidemiology capacity, and assessment of epidemiology competencies present in state health departments.

The 2009 ECA will be administered March-April 2009. It includes core questions to enable determination of trends in the number of epidemiologists working in nine epidemiology program areas, the funding sources associated with epidemiologists, self-evaluation of the extent of capacity to carry out core public health functions, enumeration of additional needs and gaps in epidemiology competencies. It also includes new questions to establish baseline data of funding streams and to assess technologic epidemiology capacity. Analyses will focus on frequencies and percentages of responses to these questions across all states and determination of trends over time using chi-square for trend if applicable.

Results of trend data for those epidemiology capacity questions included on previous surveys will be presented with particular attention to the impact of reductions in BT funding on the number of epidemiologists and of ability to perform core epidemiology functions. Results of new questions related to the relative importance of different sources of funding and current technologic epidemiology capacity will also be presented.

The 2009 ECA provides needed information to assess the initial impact of reductions in federal BT funding and to describe current epidemiology capacity and gaps for planning as we enter a fiscally unstable time period.