226729 Dealing with climate change: An evaluation of a national online course

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 11:08 AM - 11:20 AM

Thomas Chandler, PhD , National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Karen L. Levin, RN, MPH, CHES , National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University, New York, NY
Yoon Soo Park, MS , National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Jonathan J. Sury, MPH, CPH , National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University, New York, NY
Akilah Banister, MPH , National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Shwetha Bhaskar, MA , National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Without substantial changes in emissions rates, climate change from the buildup of greenhouse gases is likely to lead to extensive transformations of U.S. ecosystems and coastlines later this century. The U.S. Department of Defense's 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review recently determined that climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease and may spur or exacerbate global mass migration. It is therefore essential that the public health workforce become further aware of the potential health impacts of climate change along with the specific mitigation strategies which can be carried out.

One way of generating more awareness is through the incorporation of distance learning modalities. This study involves the evaluation of an online course distributed to more than 2,000 U.S. public health workers. The online course, developed at Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, includes a pre-test, a one hour interactive module specifically addressing the climate predictions outlined by U.S. Federal agencies, and a post test. After passing the latter portion, the learner can participate in an interactive case study simulation and receive a certificate of completion. An evaluation of the pre / post test assessment will indicate whether there has been a significant increase in the participants' understanding of climate change and its inter-relationship with public health. The authors also assert that the ability to better comprehend this audience's knowledge base is crucial for determining how future online training efforts should be designed and conducted.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Environmental health sciences
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Explain how online learning can generate new realizations regarding the relationship between public health and climate change. Describe the relationship between climate change and food and water scarcity. Describe the relationship between climate change and the spread of disease. Describe the relationship between climate change and global mass migration. Identify new studies which confirm observed climate changes and validate climate models.

Keywords: Technology, Climate Change

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I oversee a distance learning program and have been involved in research regarding climate change.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.