Hepatitis A knowledge among the public health workforce: Identifying areas for improvement

Public health and medical providers are tasked with the challenge of ensuring a competent workforce while guaranteeing their own continuing education needs are met. This requires remaining current with knowledge of public health interventions, innovations, and continually changing information. The prevention of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is one focus where further education efforts are vital to the successful prevention and eventual elimination of disease. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Division of HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis, in partnership with the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center, developed a ten question, self-report, web-based HAV Assessment Survey to determine the public health workforce's knowledge of HAV. The survey was delivered to 430 public health professionals that had previously participated in ISDH training opportunities, particularly Viral Hepatitis 101 and Epi-Ready Enteric Disease Training. Ninety of the 430 (20%) providers participated in the survey. Results indicate that retention of information regarding transmission routes, case reporting guidelines, and secondary prevention procedures is low in spite of individualized training sessions specific to HAV. Although participants in the survey scored high on questions assessing potential risk factors, most do not routinely discuss immunization opportunities with clients at increased risk, including HIV positive persons. Low retention rates and high turnover among public health professionals indicates the need to improve delivery methods for the public health workforce, which might include an increase in funding to support more comprehensive training programs. An increase in public health workforce knowledge would help ensure a continued decrease of HAV.