Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Swabbing the Urban Environment - A Pipeline for Sampling and Detection of SARS-CoV-2 From Environmental Reservoirs
Published on: April 9, 2021
Importance of scientific resources among local public health practitioners
Robert P Fields1, Katherine A Stamatakis, Kathleen Duggan
1Robert P. Fields, Kathleen Duggan, and Ross C. Brownson are with the Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO. Katherine A. Stamatakis is with the College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, MO. Ross C. Brownson is also with the Division of Public Health Sciences and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis.
Objectives:
We examined the perceived importance of scientific resources for decision-making among local health department (LHD) practitioners in the United States.
Methods:
We used data from LHD practitioners (n = 849). Respondents ranked important decision-making resources, methods for learning about public health research, and academic journal use. We calculated descriptive statistics and used logistic regression to measure associations of individual and LHD characteristics with importance of scientific resources.
Results:
Systematic reviews of scientific literature (24.7%) were most frequently ranked as important among scientific resources, followed by scientific reports (15.9%), general literature review articles (6.5%), and 1 or a few scientific studies (4.8%). Graduate-level education (adjusted odds ratios [AORs] = 1.7-3.5), larger LHD size (AORs = 2.0-3.5), and leadership support (AOR = 1.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.1, 2.3) were associated with a higher ranking of importance of scientific resources.
Conclusions:
Graduate training, larger LHD size, and leadership that supports a culture of evidence-based decision-making may increase the likelihood of practitioners viewing scientific resources as important. Targeting communication channels that practitioners view as important can also guide research dissemination strategies.
More Related Videos
07:17Deploying Community Scientists to Conduct Nondestructive Genetic Sampling of Rare Butterfly Populations
Published on: October 28, 2022
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Steps in Outbreak Investigation
Principles of Disease Surveillance
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
International Nursing Organizations II
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
Statistical Software for Data Analysis and Clinical Trials