scholarly journals Lessons Learned From an Intensive Writing Training Course for Applied Epidemiologists

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-434
Author(s):  
Jessica Arrazola ◽  
Malorie Polster ◽  
Paul Etkind ◽  
John S. Moran ◽  
Richard L. Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Publishing Process ◽  
Writing Courses ◽  
Training Course ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Council Of State

Although writing is a valued public health competency, authors face a multitude of barriers (eg, lack of time, lack of mentorship, lack of appropriate instruction) to publication. Few writing courses for applied public health professionals have been documented. In 2017 and 2018, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered to implement a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Intensive Writing Training course to improve the quality of submissions from applied epidemiologists working at health departments. The course included 3 webinars, expert mentorship from experienced authors, and a 2-day in-person session. As of April 2020, 39 epidemiologists had participated in the course. Twenty-four (62%) of the 39 epidemiologists had submitted manuscripts, 17 (71%) of which were published. The program’s evaluation demonstrates the value of mentorship and peer feedback during the publishing process, the importance of case study exercises, and the need to address structural challenges (eg, competing work responsibilities or supervisor support) in the work environment.

scholarly journals Legal Epidemiology: The Science of Law

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (S1) ◽  
pp. 69-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Ramanathan ◽  
Rachel Hulkower ◽  
Joseph Holbrook ◽  
Matthew Penn
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
National Priority ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Authorization Policies

The importance of legal epidemiology in public health law research has undoubtedly grown over the last five years. Scholars and practitioners together have developed guidance on best practices for the field, including: placing emphasis on transdisciplinary collaborations; creating valid, reliable, and repeatable research; and publishing timely products for use in decision-making and change. Despite the energy and expertise researchers have brought to this important work, they name significant challenges in marshalling the diverse skill sets, quality controls, and funding to implement legal epidemiology activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has worked to develop cross-cutting research and translation on issues of national priority in legal epidemiology, and has explored ways to overcome some of these challenges. As such, this article describes a case study of the use of law to characterize states' prior authorization policies regarding medication used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a central component of a broader effort to improve behavior therapy options for young children with ADHD. This article highlights the types of legal epidemiology work we have undertaken, the application of this work to an emerging public health problem, and the lessons learned in creating impactful research for the field.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Education for Public Health: A Practical Foundation for Solidarity

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Perkiö ◽  
R Harrison ◽  
M Grivna ◽  
D Tao ◽  
C Evashwich
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Public Health Workforce ◽  
Rigorous Evaluation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Professionals

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.

Methodology for assessment of public health preparedness and response synergies between institutional authorities and the community

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel H. de Vries ◽  
John Kinsman ◽  
Judit Takacs ◽  
Svetla Tsolova ◽  
Massimo Ciotti
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Rich Data

Abstract Background: This paper describes a participatory methodology that supports investigation of the collaboration between communities affected by infectious disease outbreak events and relevant official institutions. The core principle underlying the methodology is the recognition that synergistic relationships, characterised by mutual trust and respect, between affected communities and official institutions provide the most effective means of addressing outbreak situations. Methods: The methodological approach and lessons learned were derived from four qualitative case studies including (i) two tick-borne disease events: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Spain, and tick-borne encephalitis in the Netherlands (2016); and (ii) two outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis (norovirus in Iceland, 2017, and verocytotoxin-producingEscherichia coli [VTEC] in Ireland, 2018). These studies were conducted in collaboration with the respective national public health authorities in the affected countries by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Results: An after-event qualitative case study approach was taken using mixed methods. Lessons highlight the critical importance of collaborating with national focal points during preparation and planning, and interviewer reflexivity during fieldwork. Field work for each case study was conducted over one working week, which although limiting the number of individuals and institutions involved, still allowed for rich data collection due to the close collaboration with local authorities. The analysis focused on the specific actions undertaken by the participating countries’ public health and other authorities in relation to community engagement, as well as the view from the perspective of the community. Conclusions: The overall objective of the assessment to identify synergies between institutional decision-making bodies and community actors and networks before, during and after an outbreak response to a given public health emergency. The methodology is generic and could be applied to a range of public health emergencies, zoonotic or otherwise. The methodology emphasises reflexivity among fieldworkers, a relatively short time needed for data collection, potential generalisability of findings, insider-outsider perspectives, politically sensitive findings, and how to deal with ethical and language issues.

Practical Strategies to Improve Your Writing: Lessons Learned From Public Health Practitioners Participating in a Writing Group

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisha H. Redelfs ◽  
Juan Aguilera ◽  
Sarah L. Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Formal Training ◽  
Writing Group ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Public Health Practitioners ◽  
Training Opportunities

Many public health professionals (researchers and practitioners) do not regularly spend time writing. We often receive no formal training in the practices that lead one to become a productive writer. In addition, many internal (mental/emotional) and external (schedules/distractions) barriers make writing consistently even less appealing and may lead to a cycle of avoidance followed by binge writing. This commentary demonstrates how one writing group became an effective means of providing career and professional development. Each week for 9 months we held a 1-hour writing group meeting designed around a commitment to ground rules, accountability, training opportunities, and feedback. Our experiences suggest that engaging in a writing group can help us develop as writers by allowing us to learn new practices and skills. Adopting new practices like writing regularly for short blocks of time, in turn, led to benefits like reduced anxiety and increased productivity. In the process, we became better writers, reviewers, and mentors. We provide recommendations and resources for groups and individuals who are interested in improving their writing as an essential component of their continuing education and professional development. Whatever your professional role, using a writing group to become a more powerful and productive writer will make you more effective.

Galaxy's Data Quality Program

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Eric Infield ◽  
Laura Sebastian-Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Data Warehouse ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Health Care Data ◽  
Quality Program

This paper is a case study of the data quality program implemented for Galaxy, a large health care data warehouse owned by UnitedHealth Group and operated by Ingenix. The paper presents an overview of the program’s goals and components. It focuses on the program’s metrics and includes examples of the practical application of statistical process control (SPC) for measuring and reporting on data quality. These measurements pertain directly to the quality of the data and have implications for the wider question of information quality. The paper provides examples of specific measures, the benefits gained in applying them in a data warehouse setting, and lessons learned in the process of implementing and evolving the program.

The Role of Web Services

2010 ◽  
pp. 342-357
Author(s):  
Pauline Ratnasingam
Keyword(s):  
Web Services ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Business Firm ◽  
The Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Exploratory Case Study

This chapter aims to examine the extent of Web services usage and quality, applying the balanced scorecard methodology in a small business firm as an exploratory case study. This chapter contributes to guidelines and lessons learned that will inform, educate, and promote small businesses on the importance of maintaining the quality of Web services.

Teaching Graduate Students to Evaluate Public Health Programs Through Community-Based Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
Brenda M. Joly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Core Competency ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Public Health Programs ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Community Based Learning

Public health professionals are increasingly called on to demonstrate program evaluation skills, a core competency for the field. Learning opportunities that are connected to community organizations with identified evaluation needs give students meaningful opportunities to build and test new skills. When thoughtfully implemented, community-based learning benefits both the student and the community, yet there are several important considerations for designing a course that incorporates this feature. This article describes one approach for teaching graduate public health students how to conceptualize and write a comprehensive program evaluation plan for a community agency, based on the needs, priorities, and capacity of that agency. Lessons learned and recommendations for adopting this model are discussed.

scholarly journals A Study of Quality Assessment in Higher Education within the Context of Sustainable Development: A Case Study from Czech Republic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4769 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Vykydal ◽  
Martin Folta ◽  
Jaroslav Nenadál
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Success Factor

Quality has become an increasingly important and critical success factor at higher education institutions, particularly universities. Numerous discussions have been held about education quality in the context of sustainable development. However, the quality of that education strongly depends on the overall quality of the management system which operates at schools. The principal aim of this article is to present the approaches to the quality management systems’ development and their assessment at universities, and share some lessons learned from this area of research. Some possibilities of the ISO 9001 standard’s implementation, as well as the application of excellence models as a response to community demands, will be discussed, especially in the context of the recently-introduced Act No. 111/1998 Coll on Higher Education Institutions, which requires quality assurance and quality evaluation. A case study from The VSB-Technical University of Ostrava shows approaches, results and effects of the quality management system implementation.

CERC as a Theoretical Framework for Research and Practice

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 26S-34S ◽  
Author(s):  
Shari Veil ◽  
Barbara Reynolds ◽  
Timothy L. Sellnow ◽  
Matthew W. Seeger
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Health communicators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed an integrated model titled Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) as a tool to educate and equip public health professionals for the expanding communication responsibilities of public health in emergency situations. This essay focuses on CERC as a general theoretical framework for explaining how health communication functions within the contexts of risk and crisis. Specifically, the authors provide an overview of CERC and examine the relationship of risk communication to crisis communication, the role of communication in emergency response, and the theoretical underpinnings of CERC. The article offers an initial set of propositions based on the CERC framework and concludes with a discussion of future directions.

scholarly journals The evolution of an asset-based community led alcohol harm intervention in the North West England

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Cook ◽  
C Ure ◽  
S C Hargreaves ◽  
E Burns ◽  
M Coffey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Deprivation ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
North West ◽  
Asset Based Community Development

Abstract Background Communities in Charge of Alcohol (CICA) is an Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) place-based approach to reducing alcohol harm. Local volunteers, from areas with multiple indicators of deprivation, train to become accredited 'Alcohol Health Champions' (AHCs). AHCs, supported by a local co-ordinator, provide brief opportunistic advice at an individual level and mobilise action on alcohol availability through influencing licensing decisions at a community level. CICA is the first programme we are aware of globally that has attempted to build local AHC capacity. Here we explore lessons learned from four case study areas (of the original ten) that persisted with the intervention for more than 12 months. Methods A case study approach to investigate the context, acceptability, facilitators and barriers to maintaining CICA. Descriptive analysis of ongoing recruitment of champions, numbers of training events and activity of champions (as reported by area coordinators). Framework analysis of interviews with AHCs and stakeholders. Results CICA has increased public health capacity by training 123 AHCs in its first year. The four areas that continued with CICA have trained a further 34. The different approaches in the four areas include: embedding champions in wider health champion/volunteering projects; innovative use of new technology (portable fibroscan); expansion into different geographical areas. AHCs and coordinators report significant social value from participation in CICA. Conclusions The likelihood of embedding CICA into a local area's activities appeared to be dependent on the energy and enthusiasm of the local area's co-ordinator, and may be dependent on that individual remaining in post. ABCD programmes may be more likely to be sustainable if capacity building is supported. CICA might be more sustainable if it was embedded in a wider programme of ABCD, since health issues are interrelated and AHCs often wish to broaden their portfolio. Key messages A volunteer alcohol health champions programme increased public health capacity in areas of social deprivation by utilising the assets (skills) of local people. Embedding a community alcohol health champions programme in a wider programme of asset based community development is more sustainable and allows champions to broaden their volunteering portfolio.

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