Training types associated with knowledge and experience in public health workers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Healthcare Training
• Workforce Development

Background:

• Non-specialist training enhances mental healthcare knowledge and recognition.
• Limited information exists on the most impactful training types for these improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine which mental health training types are associated with improved knowledge and experience in public health workers.
• To identify effective training strategies for enhancing mental healthcare support capacity.

Main Methods:

• Web-based survey data from 495 public health workers.
• Multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the association between training and knowledge/experience.
• Adjusted models considered demographics, experience, and work status.

Main Results:

• Training in specific mental illnesses (OR, 0.54) and screening/assessment (OR, 0.63) were significantly associated with reduced lack of knowledge and experience.
• Training in counseling, psychosocial support, collaborative work, and law showed non-significant associations in adjusted models.

Conclusions:

• Training focused on specific illnesses and screening/assessment appears crucial for enhancing public health worker knowledge and experience.
• Future research should utilize longitudinal designs and validated measurements for robust findings.