Skills Online: Building Practitioner Competence in an Inter-professional,

Virtual Classroom

Canadian Public Health Association 2008 Annual Conference

The Need to Strengthen the Public Health Workforce

• Public health events & reports emphasized the need

to re-examine public health

• Public health priorities:

– Strengthen the public health system

– Develop a competent public health workforce

National Response to Strengthen the Public Health Workforce

Creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada (October 2004)

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Groups

– Develop pan-Canadian strategies to strengthen public health capacity

– 2 Components: Develop public health core competencies common to all

public health professionals Enhance knowledge & skills among the public health

workforce

Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 1.0

Launched at Canadian Public Health Association Conference

Ottawa, ONSeptember 2007

Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 1.0

36 statements organized under 7 categories:

1. Public Health Sciences

2. Assessment & Analysis

3. Policy & Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation

4. Partnerships, Collaboration & Advocacy

5. Diversity & Inclusiveness

6. Communication

7. Leadership

Life-Long Learning

• Like other health-related fields, public health knowledge &

practices continually evolve

• Continuing education is required to maintain high levels of

relevant knowledge & skills to practice effective public

health

Continuing education opportunities for public health

practitioners across Canada not readily available

What is Skills Online?

• Internet-based continuing education program

• A series of modules offered in English & French

• Target audience: Public health practitioners

• Increase knowledge, skills & attitudes to support Core

Competencies for Public Health in Canada

Skills Online’s Key Features

• National teams of inter-professional learners from across Canada

• Relevant, timely & practical Canadian content

• Easily accessible – Internet connection & web browser

• Low cost – no charge; need own hardware & software

• Help Desk for technical support

• Trained facilitators for content support

• 8 weeks to complete a module

• Modules range from 25 – 35 hours in length

Skills Online’s Key Features

• Pre- and Post-Tests with instant feedback for each module• Self-assessments with instant feedback for each lesson• Assignments...applying learning into practice• Discussion forum to share ideas across the country• Links to external sources of information• Interviews with public health practitioners from across the

country• Content mapped to the Core Competencies for Public

Health• Inter-professional continuing education

Percentage of Skills Online Learners by Public Health Profession

(2002 - 2008)

0 10 20 30 40 50

Medical Officer ofHealth

Nutritionist

Dental Hygienist

Educator/ Promoter

Manager/ Director

Analyst/ Researcher

EnvironmentalHealth Officer

Public Health Nurse

Percentage of LearnersOther = 26.06%

METHOD Basic Biostatistics Principles & Practices of Public Health Survey Methods

MOVING DATA TO ACTION Communicating Data Effectively Evidence-Based Planning

APPLIED PUBLIC HEALTH Outbreak Investigation & Management Applied Epidemiology : Injuries Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases

INTRODUCTION TO:

ONLINE LEARNINGEPIDEMIOLOGY Basic Epidemiological Concepts Measurement of Health Status Descriptive Epidemiological MethodsSURVEILLANCEINFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Benefits

• Practitioners

• Public health organizations

• Public health system

Evaluation

• Previous program evaluations have concentrated on

formative & process efforts

• Need for outcomes-based evaluation to better understand

applied benefits of the program for practitioners &

organizations

• Case study approach using survey, focus groups &

interview process in 2 pilot sites to explore:

– Learning transfer for participants of online modules

– Organizational effects of new learning

Findings of Outcomes-based Evaluation

• Enhanced appreciation for the breadth of work within public health that extends beyond individual, day-to-day work

• Increased perspective of the role & work within public health• Greater appreciation for & influencing data collection methods

& improved communication within & across teams• Increased practitioners' desire for & confidence in pursuing

further education

Findings of Outcomes-based Evaluation

• Increased willingness to collaborate with others with their

organization

• Improved communication & understanding of

terminology & surveillance concepts

• Increased levels of confidence of staff translating into

increased contributions at team meetings

Recognition, Endorsement & Support• Certificate from Public Health Agency of Canada & the Institut national de santé publique du Québec after successful completion of each module

• Endorsed by professional organizations & associations

• Support from provinces/territories & local organizations

• University recognition, e.g. Master of Public Health programs

For More Information

Skills Online

www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/skills

Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada

www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/core_competencies