Value-driven workforce, systems and leadership

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Tahzib

Abstract Background Our norms and values are key to decision making, policy and practice. Some commentators have highlighted need for greater courage and purpose in public health leaders and systems. There is need for greater appreciation of moral mandate of public health and implications for public health system leadership and capacity building activities and practice Objectives Demonstrate the case for value-driven workforce, systems and leadership Share key findings and learning from research by the Faculty of public health around the public health values, and activities to build capacity and competency around the issue. Body of the session Surveys of the public health workforce and schools of public health have consistently highlighted need for education and training in public health ethics and law for some time and their key role for effective public health policy and practice. In this presentation there will be demonstration of the key findings of the surveys and their consequences, including moral distress for the workforce and potential failings of public health systems Some key activities and initiatives in building competency and capacity in public health ethics and law will be described. This will include activities to develop organisational values and professional values and the important distinctions between them, and development of public health code of ethics and professional conduct as part of efforts for professionalisation of the public health workforce. Conclusions Value-driven workforce, systems and leadership are key in meeting complex public health challenges. Building competency and capacity of the workforce and public health institutions are important part of the agenda.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract To conduct good public health practice and research, ethical standards and reflection are essential. Therefore, ethics education rightly plays an increasing role in the training of the public health workforce. The organizers of this workshop all have the theme of ethics education for the public health profession as a priority in their activities. In this workshop, we present recent research findings, lessons learned and challenges in a European and global perspective. The aim of this workshop is to present and discuss these to help public health organizations and institutions of higher education to improving their public health ethics education. The added value of this workshop is to engage - personally - during the conference in Rome with senior public health professionals and researchers and to continue the dialogue on this important issue - a key mission of the EUPHA Ethics in Public Health section. Four presentations in different formats are planned, a mixture of “Research Abstract” and “Training and Education Abstracts” and presentations respectively are foreseen. The first presentation gives an assessment of how ethics is (or is not) taught in schools of public health and to the public health workforce in Europe. It shows, for the first time, the results of two surveys, among EUPHA and ASPHER members on ethics education. The second presentation gives examples of a university in Barcelona (Spain) on innovative teaching methods at master level and thus gives impulses on how education can be integrated and improved in public health education. The third presentation reflects on the competencies in public health ethics that are aimed at with innovative and traditional teaching methods. Finally, a presentation from Nigeria contrasts educational experiences of low- and middle-income countries with high income countries and shows challenges and collaborative solutions to improved ethics education in the health field. This perspective is especially suitable to be integrated in this workshop given the global character of this year's “World Conference on Public Health”. Mutual learning and support within Europe and globally is key to develop and promote the field of public health ethics education further. A fifth timeslot for a presentation would be possible in this workshop but is not filled on purpose to have sufficient time for a structured debate on challenges and opportunities with the audience and speakers. Key messages Public Health Ethics education remains key for professional education; more awareness of ethical competences has to be raised. The diversity of experienced ethics trainings offers a challenging but also promising context to develop and integrate better ethics education.


Author(s):  
A M Viens ◽  
Caroline Vass ◽  
Catherine R McGowan ◽  
Farhang Tahzib

Abstract Background Public health ethics and law (PHEL) is a core professional competency for the public health workforce. However, few data are available describing the extent to which UK public health workforce members experience ethical and legal issues or have sufficient educational and/or training background to adequately deal with such issues. Methods An anonymous online survey was developed for dissemination via member mailing lists of the: Faculty of Public Health, Royal Society of Public Health, and UK Public Health Register. Public Health England also included a link to the survey in their newsletter. The survey included questions about education, training, and experience in relation to PHEL. The survey was deployed from October 2017 to January 2018. Results The survey was completed by a diverse sample of five hundred and sixty-two individuals. The majority of respondents reported: (i) regularly encountering ethical issues, (ii) resolving ethical issues through personal reflection, (iii) having little or no education and training in PHEL, and (iv) questioning whether they have dealt with ethical issues encountered in practice in the best way. Conclusions The results suggest that there is a need to develop and support wider PHEL capacity within the UK public health workforce through the provision of PHEL education, training, guidance, and mentoring.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Perkiö ◽  
R Harrison ◽  
M Grivna ◽  
D Tao ◽  
C Evashwich

Abstract Education is a key to creating solidary among the professionals who advance public health’s interdisciplinary mission. Our assumption is that if all those who work in public health shared core knowledge and the skills for interdisciplinary interaction, collaboration across disciplines, venues, and countries would be facilitated. Evaluation of education is an essential element of pedagogy to ensure quality and consistency across boundaries, as articulated by the UNESCO education standards. Our study examined the evaluation studies done by programs that educate public health professionals. We searched the peer reviewed literature published in English between 2000-2017 pertaining to the education of the public health workforce at a degree-granting level. The 2442 articles found covered ten health professions disciplines and had lead authors representing all continents. Only 86 articles focused on evaluation. The majority of the papers examined either a single course, a discipline-specific curriculum or a teaching method. No consistent methodologies could be discerned. Methods ranged from sophisticated regression analyses and trends tracked over time to descriptions of focus groups and interviews of small samples. We found that evaluations were primarily discipline-specific, lacked rigorous methodology in many instances, and that relatively few examined competencies or career expectations. The public health workforce enjoys a diversity of disciplines but must be able to come together to share diverse knowledge and skills. Evaluation is critical to achieving a workforce that is well trained in the competencies pertinent to collaboration. This study informs the pedagogical challenges that must be confronted going forward, starting with a commitment to shared core competencies and to consistent and rigorous evaluation of the education related to training public health professionals. Key messages Rigorous evaluation is not sufficiently used to enhance the quality of public health education. More frequent use of rigorous evaluation in public health education would enhance the quality of public health workforce, and enable cross-disciplinary and international collaboration for solidarity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract One of the major outputs of the WHO Regional Office for Europe “Coalition of Partners” initiative has been the development of the “Road map for professionalization of the public health workforce in Europe.” Public health ethics was considered as one of the key pillars for practice for the workforce. The report highlighted the case and urgent need for development of Public Health Codes of ethics and professional conduct (CoC) as an essential part of workforce development strategies. The development of CoCs is considered essential to pursue the mission and moral mandate of public health and to clarify the purpose of professional activities in public health. Scotland has been working as an initial pilot site in Europe to consider developing a CoC for its workforce as part of its public health reform program. The purpose of this roundtable workshop is to share and reflect on the learning from the process, experience and findings from development of the Scottish CoC as the first pilot site in Europe and implications for development of such codes in other public health systems. The workshop will also share the evidence, rationale and background to CoC with research and learning from around the world on the issue. The Roundtable will include brief presentations by an experienced expert panel of senior public health leaders, ethicists and academics who have been working on development of public health Codes of professional conduct. This will be followed by reflection, consultation and debate with participants around the case, nature and options for development of codes of practice and distinguishing features for public health practice. There are issues to whether there is need for country specific, regional or global codes of ethics taking account core public health values and implications for practice. One of the key issues identified is fundamental importance of ensuring such work is linked to a strategy and activities to build competency and capacity around public health ethics and law and to ensure resources, systems and robust education and training activities are put in place for a sustainable development of the issue. Key messages The Development of CoCs is important in order to support the workforce, pursue the mission and moral mandate of public health and clarify the purpose of professional activities. There is need to develop activities and strategy for building competency and capacity in public health ethics alongside development of Code of ethics and professional conduct.


Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Ryan ◽  
Raymond Swienton ◽  
Curt Harris ◽  
James J. James

ABSTRACT Interdisciplinary public health solutions are vital for an effective coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response and recovery. However, there is often a lack of awareness and understanding of the environmental health workforce connections and capabilities. In the United States, this is a foundational function of health departments and is the second largest public health workforce. The primary role is to protect the public from exposures to environmental hazards, disasters, and disease outbreaks. More specifically, this includes addressing risks relating to sanitation, drinking water, food safety, vector control, and mass gatherings. This profession is also recognized in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019. Despite this, the profession is often not considered an essential service. Rapid integration into COVID-19 activities can easily occur as most are government employees and experienced working in complex and stressful situations. This role, for example, could include working with leaders, businesses, workplaces, and churches to safely reopen, and inspections to inform, educate, and empower employers, employees, and the public on safe actions. There is now the legislative support, evidence and a window of opportunity to truly enable interdisciplinary public health solutions by mobilizing the environmental health workforce to support COVID-19 response, recovery, and resilience activities.


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