Agee Brian, Gimbel Ronald W
Preventive Medicine and Biometrics Department, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Am J Public Health. 2009 Aug;99(8):1505-9. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.133173. Epub 2008 Jul 16.
We explored the relationship between the preparedness of master of public health (MPH) graduates in public health law and ethics and their completion of courses in these areas.
We reviewed accredited public health schools and programs to assess the supply of required and elective courses in law and ethics. In addition, we conducted an Internet-based scenario survey of MPH graduates. Survey results were analyzed, and relationships between scenario responses and completion of law and ethics courses were assessed.
Of the 93 programs and schools reviewed, 14% required a course in ethics and 16% required a course in law. The majority (range = 55%-76%) of the survey respondents indicated being "prepared" or "very prepared" for each of the 9 public health scenarios. There were no significant relationships between scenario responses and completion of an ethics course. Responses to 2 scenarios (one involving food code violations and one involving a prison population) were significantly related to participants' completion of a course in law.
Few public health schools and programs require graduate courses in ethics and law. Most MPH graduates report being prepared to address public health challenges. Additional research is necessary to improve techniques for measuring preparedness.
我们探讨了公共卫生硕士（MPH）毕业生在公共卫生法律与伦理方面的准备情况与其在这些领域课程完成情况之间的关系。
我们审查了经认可的公共卫生学院和项目，以评估法律与伦理方面必修课和选修课的供应情况。此外，我们对MPH毕业生进行了一项基于互联网的情景调查。对调查结果进行了分析，并评估了情景反应与法律和伦理课程完成情况之间的关系。
在审查的93个项目和学校中，14%要求开设伦理课程，16%要求开设法律课程。大多数（范围为55%-76%）调查受访者表示对9个公共卫生情景中的每一个都“有准备”或“准备充分”。情景反应与伦理课程的完成情况之间没有显著关系。对2个情景（一个涉及食品法规违规，一个涉及监狱人群）的反应与参与者完成法律课程显著相关。
很少有公共卫生学院和项目要求开设研究生阶段的伦理和法律课程。大多数MPH毕业生报告称已准备好应对公共卫生挑战。需要进行更多研究以改进衡量准备情况的技术。
