Lindsey Jana, Braun Kathryn L, Aung Nandar, Campos Jaime A, Choy Lehua, Chung Jane, Dellinger Sharon F, Gentry Lauren, Li Jinlan, Mayet Sara, Mitchell-Box Kristen, Pan Joan
Department of Public Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA.
Pac Health Dialog. 2007 Mar;14(1):191-8.
A strong public health workforce is necessary to maintain the health and well-being of any community. Currently, the ability of the public health workforce to meet demand is being challenged in Hawai'i and the Pacific. This is due, in part, to the downsizing of the public health program at the University of Hawai'i (UH) in the year 2000. Knowing the current perceptions of the community in regards to public health and identifying ways to attract more students to public health are essential in reversing this trend.
Students from a class on needs assessment and program planning at the UH Department of Public Health Sciences assessed public health education needs. The class first conducted a literature review, focus groups, and interviews to inform the development of an on-line survey. The survey was sent to 200 individuals, including current public health students, faculty, workers, employers, and alumni.
Of the 200 individuals invited to participate in the on-line survey, 128 (64%) responded. Almost half of the respondents were >50 years of age, and another 19% were between ages 41 and 50. Of the 118 who responded to this question, 85 had degrees in public health (80%from UH), and 62% had worked in public health for at least 10 years. However, only 50% of the total respondents knew that UH Masters of Public Health (MPH) and the Masters of Science (MS) programs were accredited. Forty percent or more of public health workers noted continuing education needs in 1) policy development and program planning skills, 2) analytical skills, 3) leadership and systems thinking skills, and 4) financial planning and management skills. Fully 43 of the respondents would consider applying to a DrPH program at UH, and 27 public health workers without an MPH would consider pursuing one. However potential students noted lack of time and timing of classes as barriers to attending school. Specific ideas for attracting students to public health were provided. Respondents also called for a greater commitment to public health from top leadership at UH and in Hawai'i.
Findings confirm a need for a strong public health education program in Hawai'i and a lack of awareness about the MPH and MS programs at UH. Expanding options and opportunities for public health education will require better marketing and a cohesive commitment to public health education at UH.
强大的公共卫生工作队伍对于维护任何社区的健康和福祉都至关重要。目前，夏威夷和太平洋地区公共卫生工作队伍满足需求的能力正面临挑战。部分原因是2000年夏威夷大学（UH）公共卫生项目的规模缩减。了解社区目前对公共卫生的看法并找出吸引更多学生投身公共卫生领域的方法，对于扭转这一趋势至关重要。
夏威夷大学公共卫生科学系需求评估与项目规划课程的学生评估了公共卫生教育需求。该课程首先进行了文献综述、焦点小组讨论和访谈，为在线调查的开展提供依据。调查发送给了200个人，包括当前的公共卫生专业学生、教师、工作人员、雇主和校友。
在受邀参与在线调查的200人中，128人（64%）回复。近一半的受访者年龄超过50岁，另有19%的受访者年龄在41至50岁之间。在回答该问题的118人中，85人拥有公共卫生学位（80%来自夏威夷大学），62%的人从事公共卫生工作至少10年。然而，只有50%的受访者知道夏威夷大学的公共卫生硕士（MPH）和理学硕士（MS）项目获得了认证。40%或更多的公共卫生工作者指出在以下方面有继续教育需求：1）政策制定和项目规划技能，2）分析技能，3）领导能力和系统思维技能，4）财务规划和管理技能。共有43名受访者会考虑申请夏威夷大学的公共卫生博士（DrPH）项目，27名没有MPH学位的公共卫生工作者会考虑攻读该学位。然而，潜在学生指出时间不足和课程安排时间不合适是上学的障碍。还提供了吸引学生投身公共卫生领域的具体想法。受访者还呼吁夏威夷大学和夏威夷的高层领导对公共卫生给予更大的支持。
研究结果证实夏威夷需要一个强大的公共卫生教育项目，且人们对夏威夷大学的MPH和MS项目缺乏了解。扩大公共卫生教育的选择和机会需要更好的宣传推广以及夏威夷大学对公共卫生教育的一致支持。
