Education and Training Needs of U.S. Tuberculosis Programs.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Control
• Health Education

Background:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds Tuberculosis (TB) Centers of Excellence (COEs) to support TB control and prevention in the U.S.
• TB COEs play a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and resources for TB elimination efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the training, resource, and medical consultation needs of U.S. staff involved in TB service delivery.
• To identify priority areas for future TB training and education initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A multiphased needs assessment was conducted in 2018 by TB COEs and the CDC's Division of TB Elimination.
• An online survey was administered to 1,482 staff across various settings (public health, community health centers, hospitals, etc.) in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Main Results:

• Four priority areas for TB training and education were identified.
• These priorities include focusing on key topics, tailoring content to diverse professions and skill levels, providing updates on resources and best practices, and utilizing varied training methods.

Conclusions:

• The needs assessment provides a clear roadmap for future TB training and education strategies.
• Findings were disseminated to health department TB programs nationwide to inform practice and improve TB control efforts.