Assessing the training needs of the Texas Injury and Violence Prevention Workforce

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the training needs of the Texas Injury and Violence Prevention (IVP) workforce, relating to various topics, skills, and the Core Competencies for Injury and Violence Prevention (CCIVP).

Methods: Survey data was gathered electronically. Participants were recruited through IVP networks. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Most participants worked in health care (37.2%), had a college education (87.3%), were female (73.4%) and Caucasian (75.2%). Mechanisms most commonly addressed were motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) (75.5%), falls (62.5%), bicycle crashes (57.6%) and alcohol-related injuries (46.4%). Participants wanted to learn more about these mechanisms.

The CCIVP ranked most important were the ability to: design and implement IVP activities (60.7%), build and manage an IVP program (53.8%), and stimulate change through policy, enforcement, advocacy and education (43.7%). Least important were the ability to: demonstrate knowledge, skills and best practices (61.1%), maintain and develop competency (52.2%), and disseminate information (42.9%). Participants identified program implementation (70.3%) and obtaining funding (52.8%) as top training needs.

Only 48.8% of the participants reported having IPV training. The vast majority felt Texas needed an IPV conference (95.9%).

Conclusions: The Texas IPV workforce needs training resources. Less than half of the participants had IVP training, and nearly all felt it is needed. Participants would like training on program implementation, using data, funding and evaluation. Regarding the CCIVP, they felt designing and implementing IVP activities and managing IVP programs were the most important. Training should address these needs.