Mumford Karen, Young Andrea C, Nawaz Saira
Division of Public Health Performance and Improvement, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
J Public Health Manag Pract. 2016 May-Jun;22(3):290-7. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000205.
This study reports the use of exploratory factor analysis to describe essential skills and knowledge for an important segment of the domestic public health workforce-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) project officers-using an evidence-based approach to competency development and validation.
A multicomponent survey was conducted. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the underlying domains and relationships between competency domains and key behaviors. The Cronbach α coefficient determined the reliability of the overall scale and identified factors.
All domestic (US state, tribe, local, and territorial) grantees who received funding from the CDC during fiscal year 2011 to implement nonresearch prevention or intervention programs were invited to participate in a Web-based questionnaire.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): A total of 34 key behaviors representing knowledge, skills, and abilities, grouped in 7 domains-communication, grant administration and management, public health applied science and knowledge, program planning and development, program management, program monitoring and improvement, and organizational consultation-were examined.
There were 795 responses (58% response rate). A total of 6 factors were identified with loadings of 0.40 or more for all 34 behavioral items. The Cronbach α coefficient was 0.95 overall and ranged between 0.73 and 0.91 for the factors.
This study provides empirical evidence for the construct validity of 6 competencies and 34 key behaviors important for CDC project officers and serves as an important first step to evidence-driven workforce development efforts in public health.
本研究报告了使用探索性因素分析，以循证方法进行能力发展与验证，来描述国内公共卫生工作队伍的一个重要组成部分——疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）项目官员的基本技能和知识。
开展了一项多组分调查。使用探索性因素分析来检验潜在领域以及能力领域与关键行为之间的关系。Cronbach α系数确定了总体量表的可靠性并识别了因素。
邀请了所有在2011财年期间从疾病预防控制中心获得资金以实施非研究性预防或干预项目的国内（美国州、部落、地方和属地）受资助者参与一项基于网络的问卷调查。
共考察了34项代表知识、技能和能力的关键行为，这些行为分为7个领域——沟通、拨款管理与行政、公共卫生应用科学与知识、项目规划与发展、项目管理、项目监测与改进以及组织咨询。
共收到795份回复（回复率为58%）。总共识别出6个因素，所有34项行为项目的载荷均为0.40或更高。总体Cronbach α系数为0.95，各因素的系数在0.73至0.91之间。
本研究为对疾病预防控制中心项目官员而言重要的6种能力和34项关键行为的结构效度提供了实证证据，并作为公共卫生领域循证人力发展工作的重要第一步。
