A Typology of US Public Health Work-Education Programs

Area of Science:

• Public Health Workforce Development
• Experiential Learning in Public Health
• Public Health Education

Background:

• A qualified and diverse public health workforce is essential.
• Work-education programs provide crucial experiential learning and training for public health students.
• A gap exists in literature guiding public health practice on effective work-education program design and impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and differentiate US-based public health work-education programs.
• To develop a typology of these programs for public health practitioners.
• To provide a tool for advancing public health careers and practice.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of US-based public health work-education programs was conducted.
• Content analysis was used to extract, analyze, and synthesize data from 35 articles representing 33 interventions.
• Databases searched included CINAHL, ERIC, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science (2012-2022).

Main Results:

• Three distinct types of work-education programs were identified: exposure (n=6), guidance to professions (n=12), and practice connection (n=15).
• Program types varied based on student participants, setting, and specific program components.
• The identified typology highlights the spectrum and variability in program design and implementation.

Conclusions:

• The developed typology offers a framework for understanding public health work-education programs.
• Practitioners can utilize this typology to identify feasible and desirable program aspects for their specific contexts.
• This work aims to advance public health careers and strengthen the public health workforce.