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Identifying core competencies for public health epidemiologists
Susan J Bondy1, Ian Johnson, Donald C Cole
1Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. Sue.Bondy@utoronto.ca
Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique
|September 5, 2008
Summary
Public health epidemiologists highly value quantitative methods, evidence appraisal, and knowledge transfer skills. Empirical data can guide decisions on essential competencies for the public health workforce.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Workforce Development
Background:
- Public health authorities emphasize identifying core competencies for various disciplines.
- Limited empirical data exists to guide competency selection for specific public health roles.
- This study focuses on understanding essential competencies for epidemiologists in public health settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and rank essential competencies for public health epidemiologists.
- To gather perspectives from experienced public health practitioners and epidemiologists.
- To inform decisions regarding competency frameworks for the public health workforce.
Main Methods:
- Employed a sequential, qualitative-quantitative mixed-method design.
- Conducted key informant interviews with 12 public health practitioners.
- Administered a web-based survey to 90 public health epidemiologists and held a consensus workshop.
Main Results:
- Quantitative methods, critical appraisal of evidence, and knowledge transfer were deemed very important.
- Key competencies involve providing, interpreting, and translating evidence for public health decision-making.
- Some advanced data-analytic skills presented challenges and differing opinions among participants.
Conclusions:
- Empirical data are crucial for informed discussions on discipline-specific competencies.
- Findings can guide the development of appropriate competency standards for public health epidemiologists.
- This research contributes to strengthening the public health workforce through evidence-based competency identification.
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