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Using business plan development as a capstone project for MPH programs in Canada: validation through the student perspective.

ABSTRACT: Master of Public Health (MPH) programs have been developed across Canada as a response to the need for adequately trained individuals to work in the public health sector. Educational institutions that deliver MPH programs have a responsibility to ensure that graduates of their program have the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to begin a successful career in public health. The Public Health Agency of Canada has created the core competencies for public health to guide the development, delivery and evaluation of MPH programs. In Canada, a capstone project is the recommended method of evaluating the MPH graduate's ability to demonstrate proficiency in the public health core competencies. A business plan that develops the framework for a public health program is an ideal capstone project currently used in practice within the University of Guelph MPH program. This group assignment incorporates all 36 of the public health core competencies while providing students with a real-world public health experience, and should be considered for inclusion within MPH programs across Canada. Business planning provides students the opportunity to engage in practice-based learning, applying theoretical knowledge to practice. Further, the ability to develop realistic but financially feasible public health problems is an invaluable skill for MPH graduates. As the development of programs becomes more restricted and the continuation of other programs are under constant threat, the ability to develop a sound business plan is a required skill for individuals entering the public health sector, and will ensure students are able to maximize outcomes given tight fiscal budgets and limited resources.

SUBMITTER: Papadopoulos A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7087658 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Using business plan development as a capstone project for MPH programs in Canada: validation through the student perspective.

Papadopoulos Andrew A Britten Nicole N Hatcher Meghan M Rainville Keira K

Journal of community health 20131001 5

Master of Public Health (MPH) programs have been developed across Canada as a response to the need for adequately trained individuals to work in the public health sector. Educational institutions that deliver MPH programs have a responsibility to ensure that graduates of their program have the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to begin a successful career in public health. The Public Health Agency of Canada has created the core competencies for public health to guide the development, del ...[more]

PMID: 23666161

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Project description:BackgroundThe Radiotherapy Expansion Plan for Brazil's Unified Health System (PER-SUS) was an innovative program designed by the Ministry of Health in 2012 to provide improvements to the challenging problem of access to radiotherapy in the country. This study sought to analyze the execution and implementation of installations proposed by PER-SUS, and their capacity to address the problems of radiotherapy access in Brazil.MethodsFrom the first release (February 2015) until October 2021, all PER-SUS monthly progress reports were retrospectively analyzed. The beneficiary institutions, project location, project status, project type, dates of the progress on the stages, and reasons for cancellations or possible justifications for changing the status were collected. Brazilian geographic data, health care demands, and cancer incidences were correlated. Finally, we performed an Ishikawa diagram and 5W3H methodology, aiming to better understand the findings and to yield possible ways to improve the access to radiotherapy.FindingsAfter ten years, the PER-SUS project delivered nearly 50% of the planned implementation of radiotherapy equipment. There was a 17% growth in the national number of linear accelerators (LINACS) with PER-SUS, against a 32% increase in cancer incidence in Brazil in the same period. The following points were identified: a high rate of beneficiary exclusions reflecting inappropriate selection or inadequate planning; delays in execution related to bureaucratic obstacles and underestimation of the requirements (logistics/people); early closing of the equipment factory as a result of lack of project prioritization by the Government.InterpretationOnly about 50% of PER-SUS are being carried out. However, delays and exclusions of beneficiaries were observed. The dimension of the need for radiotherapy care in Brazil is greater than considered, and might not be fully attended by PER-SUS. Geographic, epidemiological, logistical, and economic variables could be reevaluated to allow better strategic planning and improvement proposals. PER-SUS could be optimized for the next decade, by involving all stakeholders' participation, alignment, and engagement. In the future, the States and regions with a higher LINAC shortage should be prioritized to improve RT access across the country. Considering the data and the initial project deadline, PER-SUS did not achieve the pre-established goals specified by the Brazilian Government.FundingThis research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Using business plan development as a capstone project for MPH programs in Canada: validation through the student perspective.

Publications

Using business plan development as a capstone project for MPH programs in Canada: validation through the student perspective.

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