Disease Intervention Specialist Education for the Future: An Analysis of Public Health Curricula

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the degree of alignment between an existing public health curricula and disease intervention specialist (DIS) workforce training needs, (2) assess the appropriateness of public health education for DISs, and (3) identify existing curriculum gaps to inform future DIS training efforts. Methods: Using the iterative comparison analysis process of crosswalking, we compared DIS job tasks and knowledge competencies across a standard Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited bachelor of science in public health (BSPH) and master of public health (MPH) program core curricula offered by the Georgia Southern University Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. Four researchers independently coded each DIS task and competency as addressed or not in the curriculum and then discussed all matches and non-matches between coders. Researchers consulted course instructors when necessary, and discussion between researchers continued until agreement was reached on coding. Results: The BSPH curriculum aligned with 75% of the DIS job tasks and 42% of the DIS knowledge competencies. The MPH core curriculum aligned with 55% of the job tasks and 40% of the DIS knowledge competencies. Seven job tasks and 9 knowledge competencies were considered unique to a DIS and would require on-the-job training. Conclusions: Findings suggest that an accredited public health academic program, grounded in CEPH competencies, could address multiple components of DIS educational preparation. Similar analyses should be conducted at other CEPH-accredited schools and programs of public health to account for variations in curriculum.

Advances in Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing at Home and in Nonclinical Settings Close to the Home

“…Disease intervention specialist could support patient specimen self-collection by providing instructions, being available for questions and/or transporting specimens like current DIS already do for HIV testing and other STI services. 21 This opens the exciting new opportunity of rapid home intervention in one visit, without need for waiting for test results, returning to bring drugs and the associated potential loss to follow-up. Currently, the regulatory requirements related to the supervision of specimen self-collection of existing STI tests are not well defined.…”

Turnover, COVID-19, and Reasons for Leaving and Staying Within Governmental Public Health

“…11,12 Although the exact costs of turnovers may be difficult to estimate, they can be detrimental, given the ongoing challenges associated with recruitment, skill development, and training of new employees. 6,13,14 Studies of employee retention and turnover have identified a myriad of factors associated with employees' decision to stay or leave. Leider and colleagues 12 summarized factors associated with turnover (actual separation), including job dissatisfaction and pay dissatisfaction, as well as employee characteristics such as being younger than 36 years or older than 55 years, having a tenure of 5+ years, and being an executive (compared with nonsupervisors).…”

“…Recent surveys of the governmental workforce have indicated that an increasing proportion of public health employees intend to leave the public health workforce in the near term 11,12. Although the exact costs of turnovers may be difficult to estimate, they can be detrimental, given the ongoing challenges associated with recruitment, skill development, and training of new employees 6,13,14. Studies of employee retention and turnover have identified a myriad of factors associated with employees' decision to stay or leave.…”

Adapting Index/Partner Services for the Treatment of Chlamydia Among Young African American Men in a Community Screening Program

“…This is generally done through index case notification, coordination of treatment for index cases and their sexual contacts, and, in some cases, contact tracing. 9 Partner services may include expedited therapy, which involves providing treatment without the need to return to the diagnosing medical facility. 10 Expedited index therapy is given to the individual first identified as infected, whereas EPT includes treatment for sexual partners of the index without a medical evaluation.…”

“…Partner services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are mainstays of public health programs to ensure that sexual partners of infected persons are treated to prevent further transmission and reinfection. This is generally done through index case notification, coordination of treatment for index cases and their sexual contacts, and, in some cases, contact tracing 9 . Partner services may include expedited therapy, which involves providing treatment without the need to return to the diagnosing medical facility 10 .…”