A systematic review of outcome and impact of Master’s in health and health care

Zwanikken, Prisca; Dieleman, Marjolein; Samaranayake, Dulani; Akwataghibe, Ngozi; Scherpbier, Albert

doi:10.1186/1472-6920-13-18

Cited by 21 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…A review by Zwanikken et al [17] revealed that very few Masters programmes in health and health care have defined their intended impact on the workplace and in society in general, by specifying outcome or impact indicators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of public health competencies and impact variables for low- and middle-income countries

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThe number of Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasing, but questions have been raised regarding the relevance of their outcomes and impacts on context. Although processes for validating public health competencies have taken place in recent years in many high-income countries, validation in LMICs is needed. Furthermore, impact variables of MPH programmes in the workplace and in society have not been developed.MethodA set of public health competencies and impact variables in the workplace and in society was designed using the competencies and learning objectives of six participating institutions offering MPH programmes in or for LMICs, and the set of competencies of the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice as a reference. The resulting competencies and impact variables differ from those of the Council on Linkages in scope and emphasis on social determinants of health, context specificity and intersectoral competencies. A modified Delphi method was used in this study to validate the public health competencies and impact variables; experts and MPH alumni from China, Vietnam, South Africa, Sudan, Mexico and the Netherlands reviewed them and made recommendations.ResultsThe competencies and variables were validated across two Delphi rounds, first with public health experts (N = 31) from the six countries, then with MPH alumni (N = 30). After the first expert round, competencies and impact variables were refined based on the quantitative results and qualitative comments. Both rounds showed high consensus, more so for the competencies than the impact variables. The response rate was 100%.ConclusionThis is the first time that public health competencies have been validated in LMICs across continents. It is also the first time that impact variables of MPH programmes have been proposed and validated in LMICs across continents. The high degree of consensus between experts and alumni suggests that these public health competencies and impact variables can be used to design and evaluate MPH programmes, as well as for individual and team assessment and continuous professional development in LMICs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of public health competencies and impact variables for low- and middle-income countries

et al. 2014

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“…Our study reports on one of the highest numbers of graduates of Masters in health and health care (n = 445); the highest was 478; response rates reported were similar [18]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…As attribution was rarely addressed in articles reviewed [18], specific questions were asked regarding the graduates’ attribution of competencies and impact variables to the MPH program. The range of ratings was kept small to avoid the recognized tendency for respondents to repeat a rating where the range is wider (Additional file 1) [24,26].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outcome and impact of Master of Public Health programs across six countries: education for change

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThe human resources for health crisis has highlighted the need for high-level public health education to add specific capacities to the workforce. Recently, it was questioned whether Master of Public Health (MPH) training prepared graduates with competencies relevant to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the influence of the MPH programs geared towards LMICs offered in Vietnam, China, South Africa, Mexico, Sudan, and the Netherlands on graduates’ careers, application of acquired competencies, performance at the workplace, and their professional contribution to society.MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was sent to graduates from six MPH programs. Frequency distributions of the answers were calculated, and a bivariate analysis and logistic regression of certain variables was performed.ResultsThe response rate was 37.5%. Graduates reported change in leadership (69%), in technical position (69%), acquiring new responsibilities (80%), and increased remuneration (63%); they asserted that MPH programs contributed significantly to this. Graduates’ attribution of their application of 7 key competencies ‘substantially to the MPH program’ ranged from 33% to 48%. Of the 26 impact variables, graduates attributed the effect they had on their workplace substantially to the MPH program; the highest rated variable ranged from 31% to 73% and the lowest ranged from 9% to 43%. Of the 10 impact variables on society, graduates attributed the effect they had on society substantially to the MPH program; for the highest rated variable (13% to 71%); for the lowest rated variable (4% to 42%). Candidates’ attribution of their application of acquired competencies as well as their impact at the workplace varied significantly according to institution of study and educational background.ConclusionsThis study concludes that these MPH programs contribute to improving graduates’ careers and to building leadership in public health. The MPH programs contribute to graduates’ application of competencies. MPH programs contribute substantially towards impact variables on the workplace, such as development of research proposals and reporting on population health needs, and less substantially to their impact on society, such as contributing equitable access to quality services. Differences reported between MPH programs merit further study. The results can be used for curriculum reform.

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“…Previously reported studies of the effects of masters programs in health used mostly graduate surveys and sometimes qualitative research using graduate interviews and focus group discussions, though almost all were focused on outcome and not impact [4, 16]. Other researchers mention skills applied in the workplace, i.e., outcome, but not the result of those skills, i.e., impact [4, 16]. This is therefore the first study which reports on impact of masters programs using a method that can be compared with multiple-source feedback.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of MPH programs: contributing to health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries?

2016

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BackgroundThe “health workforce” crisis has led to an increased interest in health professional education, including MPH programs. Recently, it was questioned whether training of mid- to higher level cadres in public health prepared graduates with competencies to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Measuring educational impact has been notoriously difficult; therefore, innovative methods for measuring the outcome and impact of MPH programs were sought. Impact was conceptualized as “impact on workplace” and “impact on society,” which entailed studying how these competencies were enacted and to what effect within the context of the graduates’ workplaces, as well as on societal health.MethodsThis is part of a larger six-country mixed method study; in this paper, the focus is on the qualitative findings of two English language programs, one a distance MPH program offered from South Africa, the other a residential program in the Netherlands. Both offer MPH training to students from a diversity of countries. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 graduates (per program), working in low- and middle-income health systems, their peers, and their supervisors.ResultsImpact on the workplace was reported as considerable by graduates and peers as well as supervisors and included changes in management and leadership: promotion to a leadership position as well as expanded or revitalized management roles were reported by many participants. The development of leadership capacity was highly valued amongst many graduates, and this capacity was cited by a number of supervisors and peers. Wider impact in the workplace took the form of introducing workplace innovations such as setting up an AIDS and addiction research center and research involvement; teaching and training, advocacy, and community engagement were other ways in which graduates’ influence reached a wider target grouping. Beyond the workplace, an intersectoral approach, national reach through policy advisory roles to Ministries of Health, policy development, and capacity building, was reported. Work conditions and context influenced conduciveness for innovation and the extent to which graduates were able to have effect.Self-selection of graduates and their role in selecting peers and supervisors may have resulted in some bias, some graduates could not be traced, and social acceptability bias may have influenced findings.ConclusionsThere was considerable impact at many levels; graduates were perceived to be able to contribute significantly to their workplaces and often had influence at the national level. Much of the impact described was in line with public health educational aims. The qualitative method study revealed more in-depth understanding of graduates’ impact as well as their career pathways.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12960-016-0150-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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A systematic review of outcome and impact of Master’s in health and health care

Cited by 21 publications

References 51 publications

Validation of public health competencies and impact variables for low- and middle-income countries

Validation of public health competencies and impact variables for low- and middle-income countries

Outcome and impact of Master of Public Health programs across six countries: education for change

Impact of MPH programs: contributing to health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries?

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