Improving Public Health Preparedness Capacity Measurement: Development of the Local Health Department Preparedness Capacities Assessment Survey

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 578-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary V. Davis ◽  
Glen P. Mays ◽  
James Bellamy ◽  
Christine A. Bevc ◽  
Cammie Marti
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Kappa Statistics ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Assessment Survey ◽  
Legal Infrastructure

AbstractObjectiveTo address limitations in measuring the preparedness capacities of health departments, we developed and tested the Local Health Department Preparedness Capacities Assessment Survey (PCAS).MethodsPreexisting instruments and a modified 4-cycle Delphi panel process were used to select instrument items. Pilot test data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. Kappa statistics were calculated to examine rater agreement within items. The final instrument was fielded with 85 North Carolina health departments and a national matched comparison group of 248 health departments.ResultsFactor analysis identified 8 initial domains: communications, surveillance and investigation, plans and protocols, workforce and volunteers, legal infrastructure, incident command, exercises and events, and corrective action. Kappa statistics and z scores indicated substantial to moderate agreement among respondents in 7 domains. Cronbach α coefficients ranged from 0.605 for legal infrastructure to 0.929 for corrective action. Mean scores and standard deviations were also calculated for each domain and ranged from 0.41 to 0.72, indicating sufficient variation in the sample to detect changes over time.ConclusionThe PCAS is a useful tool to determine how well health departments are performing on preparedness measures and identify opportunities for future preparedness improvements. Future survey implementation will incorporate recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Preparedness Capabilities: National Standards for State and Local Planning. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:578–584)

Leveraging Limited Resources Through Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing: Influences on Breastfeeding Rates

2020 ◽  
pp. 089033442096363
Author(s):  
M. Elizabeth Gyllstrom ◽  
Marcia Burton McCoy ◽  
Gianfranco Pezzini ◽  
Adam Atherly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Relative Rate ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Breastfeeding Initiation ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Health Boards

Background Cross-jurisdictional sharing is gaining traction as an option for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of public health services in local health departments. Research aim Assess whether breastfeeding initiation among participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children changed with the addition of a trained breastfeeding specialist funded by cross-jurisdictional integration. Methods A longitudinal retrospective comparative difference in difference design using state-based program data, pre- and post-integration was undertaken. Three local county health departments ( n = 5) that fully integrated into one Community Health Board during January 2015, and four neighboring Community Health Boards ( n = 4) that did not integrate, were included. Results Controlling for confounders and interactions, the relative rate of change over time in breastfeeding initiation rates was greater in the integrated jurisdiction than neighboring Community Health Boards, but not statistically significant. When the integrated Community Health Board’s original three local health departments were considered separately, the relative rate of change over time in breastfeeding rates was greater for one local health department in comparison to three neighbor Community Health Boards ( p = .037, .048, and .034, respectively). Conclusions The addition of a specialized breastfeeding nutritionist led to improved breastfeeding initiation rates. The increase was significant only in the largest original local health department, which also had the lowest breastfeeding initiation rate pre-merger. The greatest positive change was seen in this local health department where the specialist staff was physically located. Public health staff specialization can lead to increases in economic efficiency and in improved delivery of public health services.

scholarly journals Participation in local health department investigations by public health student teams.

1988 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 717-717
Author(s):  
H S Teitelbaum ◽  
J McLaughlin ◽  
L Barnaby ◽  
A Paskilas ◽  
S Helgerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Student Teams

scholarly journals Evaluating Streetscape Modifications in Los Angeles, California with a Health Lens

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-23
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Green ◽  
Lauren N. Gase ◽  
Chandini Singh ◽  
Tony Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Driver Behavior ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Health Practitioners

Background and Purpose: Despite growing evidence linking health and the built environment, local health departments are often not involved in the evaluation of a streetscape modification project. This paper describes an assessment conducted by a local health department to address this gap by using a health lens to evaluate the installation of painted curb extensions on a commercial corridor in Los Angeles. Methods: The local health department conducted an observational pre-post study of pedestrian and motorist data at both an intersection receiving the painted curb extension and a comparison intersection along the same corridor that had already received the extension. The study also analyzed streetscape features along the corridor related to walkability, to understand the painted curb extension in the context of the broader built environment. Results: The painted curb extension did not appear to significantly impact pedestrian and motorist behavior, though some slight changes were observed. Pedestrians along the corridor generally exhibited safe behavior at intersections, but encountered dangerous driver behavior and built environment barriers, which can discourage walking. Conclusion: This case study demonstrates how health considerations can be integrated into an evaluation of a streetscape modification project, and can provide guidance for other health practitioners developing such evaluation projects in their own jurisdictions.

scholarly journals Are Public Health Organizations Tweeting to the Choir? Understanding Local Health Department Twitter Followership

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenine K Harris ◽  
Bechara Choucair ◽  
Ryan C Maier ◽  
Nina Jolani ◽  
Jay M Bernhardt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Organizations ◽  
Public Health Organizations

scholarly journals The Impacts of Local Health Department Consolidation on Public Health Expenditures: Evidence From Ohio

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (S2) ◽  
pp. S174-S180 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hoornbeek ◽  
Michael E. Morris ◽  
Matthew Stefanak ◽  
Joshua Filla ◽  
Rohit Prodhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Expenditures ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Expenditures

A Toolkit to Assess Medical Reserve Corps Units' Performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Savoia ◽  
Sarah Massin-Short ◽  
Melissa Ann Higdon ◽  
Lindsay Tallon ◽  
Emmanuel Matechi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
National Network ◽  
Medical Reserve Corps ◽  
Survey Instruments

ABSTRACTObjectives: The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of community-based units created to promote the local identification, recruitment, training, and activation of volunteers to assist local health departments in public health activities. This study aimed to develop a toolkit for MRC coordinators to assess and monitor volunteer units' performance and identify barriers limiting volunteerism.Methods: In 2008 and 2009, MRC volunteers asked to participate in influenza clinics were surveyed in 7 different locations throughout the United States. Two survey instruments were used to assess the performance of the volunteers who were able to participate, the specific barriers that prevented some volunteers from participating, and the overall attitudes of those who participated and those who did not. Validity and reliability of the instruments were assessed through the use of factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha.Results: Two survey instruments were developed: the Volunteer Self-Assessment Questionnaire and the Barriers to Volunteering Questionnaire. Data were collected from a total of 1059 subjects, 758 participated in the influenza clinics and 301 were unable to attend. Data from the 2 instruments were determined to be suitable for factor analysis. Factor solutions and inter-item correlations supported the hypothesized domain structure for both survey questionnaires. Results on volunteers' performance were consistent with observations of both local health departments' staff and external observers.Conclusions: The survey instruments developed for this study appear to be valid and reliable means to assess the performance and attitudes of MRC volunteers and barriers to their participation. This study found these instruments to have face and content validity and practicality. MRC coordinators can use these questionnaires to monitor their ability to engage volunteers in public health activities.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:213-219)

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