Dataset Information

Increasing state public health professionals' proficiency in using PubMed.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The paper provides an overview of a strategy to increase utilization of online bibliographic databases by public health workers.

Methods

A web-based survey of professional staff in the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services was conducted to assess their use of and interest in training in online bibliographic databases. Based on the findings from the assessment, the department, in collaboration with the state university, provided brief ninety-minute training sessions for interested staff on the use of PubMed.

Results

Seventy of 115 (61%) of staff completed the survey. Only 39% of staff reported using an online bibliographic database to conduct a literature search in the past year, and only 10% (n=7) reported having ever received any training in their use. Perceived proficiency with the use of PubMed was higher upon completion of the brief training. The majority of training participants (n=27) indicated that they were very likely to use PubMed in the next year to search the literature.

Conclusions

A collaboratively designed training can increase public health workers' proficiency in and intentions of using online bibliographic databases.

SUBMITTER: Harwell TS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2268229 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Increasing state public health professionals' proficiency in using PubMed.

Harwell Todd S TS Law Dionne Gesink DG Ander Jennifer L JL Helgerson Steven D SD

Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA 20080401 2

<h4>Objective</h4>The paper provides an overview of a strategy to increase utilization of online bibliographic databases by public health workers.<h4>Methods</h4>A web-based survey of professional staff in the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services was conducted to assess their use of and interest in training in online bibliographic databases. Based on the findings from the assessment, the department, in collaboration with the state university, provided brief ninety-minute traini ...[more]

PMID: 18379668

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Public health genomics is an emerging multidisciplinary approach, which aims to integrate genome-based knowledge in a responsible and effective way into public health. Despite several surveys performed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and professional behaviors of physicians towards predictive genetic testing, similar surveys have not been carried out for public health practitioners. This study is the first to assess knowledge, attitudes and training needs of public health professionals in the field of predictive genetic testing for chronic diseases. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was used to carry out a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of Italian public health professionals. RESULTS: A response rate of 67.4% (797 questionnaires) was achieved. Italian public health professionals have the necessary attitudinal background to contribute to the proper use of predictive genetic testing for chronic diseases, but they need additional training to increase their methodological knowledge. Knowledge significantly increases with exposure to predictive genetic testing during postgraduate training (odds ratio (OR)?=?1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI)?=?1.05-2.88), time dedicated to continuing medical education (OR?=?1.53, 95% CI?=?1.14-2.04) and level of English language knowledge (OR?=?1.36, 95% CI?=?1.07-1.72). Adequate knowledge is the strongest predictor of positive attitudes from a public health perspective (OR?=?3.98, 95% CI?=?2.44-6.50). Physicians show a lower level of knowledge and more public health attitudes than other public health professionals do. About 80% of public health professionals considered their knowledge inadequate and 86.0% believed that it should be improved through specific postgraduate training courses. CONCLUSIONS: Specific and targeted training initiatives are needed to develop a skilled public health workforce competent in identifying genomic technology that is ready for use in population health and in modeling public health genomic programs and primary care services that need to be developed, implemented and evaluated.

Project description:BackgroundRural health professionals stand at the forefront of community response to climate change, but few studies have assessed their perceptions of the threat. Further, no previous study has compared the opinions of environmental to public health professionals or extensively analyzed the factors related to these experts' climate beliefs, risk perceptions, and issue prioritization.MethodsIn conjunction with the Montana Climate Assessment's 2021 Special Report on Climate Change and Human Health, the 479 members of the Montana Public Health Association and Montana Environmental Health Association were surveyed during September-October 2019, with 39% completing the survey. We summarized descriptive data about their perceptions of local climate-related changes and their beliefs that global warming is happening, is mostly human-caused, is a risk to human health, and that their offices and others should take action. We also evaluated which sociodemographic and risk perception factors related to these climate beliefs, risk perceptions, and workplace issue prioritization.ResultsHealth professionals in Montana, a politically conservative state, demonstrated high levels of awareness that global warming is happening, human-caused, and a threat to human health, well above reported rates of public concern. Eighty-eight percent said that global warming is occurring and 69% that it is mostly anthropogenic. Sixty-nine percent said that their own health was already affected by climate, and 86% said they were already seeing at least one climate change-related event in their communities. Seventy-two percent said that their departments should be preparing to deal with climate change's health effects, but just 30% said that it is currently happening. We found no statistically significant differences between Montana environmental health and public health professionals in regression models predicting climate beliefs, risk perception, and prioritization. As in studies of the public, political ideology and the observation of local climate-related changes were the strongest factors.ConclusionsMontana environmental and public health officials said that departmental action was needed on climate change, indicating the readiness of rural health professionals to take action. Further studies of health professionals in rural regions are warranted.

Dataset Information

Increasing state public health professionals' proficiency in using PubMed.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Increasing state public health professionals' proficiency in using PubMed.

Similar Datasets

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