This article describes a nationally representative survey of central office employees at state health agencies to characterize key components of the public health workforce.

Objective This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of a nurse assisted online cognitive-behavioral self-management intervention for war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared to optimized usual primary care PTSD Treatment (OUC) to reduce PTSD symptoms. Method Participants were 80 veterans of recent military conflicts with PTSD as assessed by the PTSD Checklist (PCL) seeking primary care treatment at one of three Veterans Affairs (VA) and four Army clinics. DESTRESS-PC consisted of logins to a secure website three times per week for 6 weeks with monitoring by a study nurse. All participants received nurse care management in the form of phone check-ins every two weeks and feedback to their primary care providers. Blinded raters assessed outcomes 6, 12, and 18 weeks post-randomization. Results DESTRESS-PC was associated with a significantly greater decrease in PTSD symptoms compared to OUC (F(3, 186)=3.72, p=.012). The effect was largest at the 12-week assessment (ΔPCL=12.6±16.6 versus 5.7±12.5, p<0.05) with the treatment effect disappearing by the 18-week follow-up. Notably, there was a dose effect; number of logins correlated significantly with PTSD outcomes, with more logins associated with greater PTSD symptom improvement. None of the secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, and functional status) showed statistically significant improvement; however, the treatment effect on depression approached significance (F(3, 186)=2.17, p=.093). Conclusions DESTRESS-PC shows promise as a means of delivering effective, early PTSD treatment in primary care. Larger trials are needed.

Demands for public health staff could possibly be met by the influx of graduates from schools and programs of public health. However, substantial implications exist for transferal of institutional knowledge and ability to recruit and retain the best staff to sufficiently meet demand.

Public health is at a crossroads. Significant turnover is expected in the coming years. Retention efforts should engage staff across all levels of public health.

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.This article outlines the conceptualization, development, and implementation of the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey, as well as considerations and limitations.

Women are overrepresented in the growing number and proportion of full-time non-tenure-track faculty. Data from NSOPF-93, institutional surveys, and interviews show these women clustered in the lowest faculty ranks and in traditionally female disciplines. They carry heavier teaching loads than their male colleagues, are paid less, and have fewer opportunities for advancement. Full-time non-tenure-track women with a doctorate are the least satisfied of all faculty. These findings suggest substantive institutional changes in politics and practices dealing with non-tenure-track faculty.

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This study ascertains the levels of educational attainment among state health agency employees as well as the correlates of attainment.