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Virtually there: Using web-based training to build GIS capacity for public health professionals
Objectives: We sought to explore the effectiveness of web-based GIS training compared to in-person training in advancing the work of health departments.
Methods: We originally developed a GIS curriculum delivered through in-person training. Iterative offerings and improvements in the curriculum have resulted in a high-impact, time-efficient training approach. Seeking to expand our training model to health departments with time and travel constraints, and to offer flexible options for advanced training content, we developed web-based training approaches for the delivery of the same GIS curricular content. Here, we: 1) describe the structure and components of the in-person and web-based training models; 2) quantify the information technology, personnel, and data resources required for each training model; 3) compare and contrast outcomes for each training model; and 4) evaluate each model for its effectiveness in developing specific GIS skills.
Discussion: At a time when advanced information technology, such as GIS, is available to improve public health tracking, programming, analysis, and policy development, resource constraints within health departments often present barriers to increasing institutional capacity. Drawing on our GIS training experiences from 35 health departments across the county, we offer recommendations for a web-based training model that can enhance the ability of health department staff to advance their technical capacity to design, develop, and implement surveillance and treatment programs. We also discuss how such training approaches can help create a cost-effective path to sustainable GIS capacity.
Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadershipCommunication and informatics
Program planning
Learning Objectives:
Describe a web-based approach to training focused on building Geographic Information Systems capacity in state and local health departments
Understand key considerations and components for successful web-based GIS training
Compare and contrast training outcomes from different content delivery approaches to develop and advance GIS capacity within state and local health departments
Keyword(s): Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Information Technology
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as the Director of Training and a GIS analyst for CEHI. I lead a series of projects seeking to understand the complex factors that contribute to health outcomes, and direct CEHI’s GIS capacity building efforts. My research experiences and interests include: examining environmentally driven health disparities; informal project based approaches to education and training for public health/environmental professionals; and the communication of complex data analyses and explanatory narratives through visualization.
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.