背景:COVID-19大流行强调了在公共卫生危机之前需要一支训练有素的公共卫生队伍。公共卫生培训中心定期评估劳动力需求,其疫情前数据在指导危机后的公共卫生劳动力发展方面发挥着至关重要的作用。
方法:2019年,俄克拉荷马州第6区中南部公共卫生培训中心(R6SCPHTC)的合作伙伴共同对位于卫生资源与服务管理第6区的公共卫生人员进行了在线调查。
方法:从3月到4月,R6SCPHTC收集了503份调查,包括来自俄克拉荷马州的201项调查。询问人口和劳动力特征的问题,工作环境,培训需求和兴趣,培训准入和后勤,和R6SCPHTC在线资源的知识。
结果:主要发现包括,大流行前俄克拉荷马州公共卫生劳动力的三分之二由40岁或40岁以上的员工组成,几乎没有公共卫生或医学学位。大多数受访者在卫生部门和部落工作,几乎一半是一线工人。尽管至少有一半对公共卫生活动和主题培训感兴趣的参与者熟悉他们,对他们与这些活动和主题相关的能力的信心只有不到一半。定性数据提供了定量解决的培训需求的详细信息,并描述了新的培训领域。调查参与者对各种培训方法和技术设备表示了兴趣。大多数受访者不熟悉通过R6SCPHTC提供的免费培训。
结论:与区域和国家公共卫生人员类似,俄克拉荷马州的劳动力在COVID-19之前已经需要培训和支持。需要将时间和资源投入到当前和未来的劳动力中。虽然解决重点公共卫生技能和主题仍然很重要,需要对当前和新兴主题进行培训。提供具有扩展内容的可访问培训将为俄克拉荷马州的公共卫生劳动力做好准备。
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a well-trained public health workforce prior to the public health crisis. Public health training centers regularly assess workforce needs and their pre-pandemic data play vital roles in guiding public health workforce development beyond the crisis.
METHODS: In 2019,
Oklahoma partners of the Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center (R6SCPHTC) co-conducted an online survey of the public health workforce located in the Health Resources & Services Administration Region 6.
METHODS: Between March and April, the R6SCPHTC collected 503 surveys, including 201 surveys from
Oklahoma. Questions inquired about demographic and workforce characteristics, work contexts, training needs and interests, training access and logistics, and knowledge of R6SCPHTC online resources.
RESULTS: Key findings included that two-thirds of the pre-pandemic
Oklahoma public health workforce consisted of employees age 40 or older with few holding public health or medical degrees. The majority of respondents worked for health departments and Tribes, and almost half were frontline workers. Although at least half of the participants interested in training on public health activities and topics were familiar with them, confidence in their abilities related to these activities and topics was expressed by less than half. Qualitative data provided details on training needs addressed quantitatively and described new training areas. Survey participants expressed interest in diverse training delivery methods and technological devices. Most respondents were not familiar with the free trainings available through the R6SCPHTC.
CONCLUSIONS: Similar to the regional and national public health workforce,
Oklahoma\'s workforce needed training and support already before COVID-19. Time and resources need to be invested into the current and future workforce. While addressing priority public health skills and topics remains important, training on current and emerging topics is needed. Providing accessible trainings with expanded content will prepare
Oklahoma\'s public health workforce for the future.