An intervention for enhancing public health crisis response willingness among local health department workers: a qualitative programmatic analysis. Am J Disaster Med 2014;9(2):87-96
Date
07/30/2014Pubmed ID
25068938DOI
10.5055/ajdm.2014.0145Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84907063693 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 6 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the impact of a novel multimethod curricular intervention using a train-the-trainer model: the Public Health Infrastructure Training (PHIT). PHIT was designed to 1) modify perceptions of self-efficacy, response efficacy, and threat related to specific hazards and 2) improve the willingness of local health department (LHD) workers to report to duty when called upon.
METHODS: Between June 2009 and October 2010, eight clusters of US LHDs (n = 49) received PHIT. Two rounds of focus groups at each intervention site were used to evaluate PHIT. The first round of focus groups included separate sessions for trainers and trainees, 3 weeks after PHIT. The second round of focus groups combined trainers and trainees in a single group at each site 6 months following PHIT. During the second focus group round, participants were asked to self-assess their preparedness before and after PHIT implementation.
SETTING: Focus groups were conducted at eight geographically representative clusters of LHDs.
PARTICIPANTS: Focus group participants included PHIT trainers and PHIT trainees within each LHD cluster.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Focus groups were used to assess attitudes toward the curricular intervention and modifications of willingness to respond (WTR) to an emergency; self-efficacy; and response efficacy.
RESULTS: Participants reported that despite challenges in administering the training, PHIT was well designed and appropriate for multiple management levels and disciplines. Positive mean changes were observed for all nine self-rated preparedness factors (p < 0.001). The findings show PHIT's benefit in improving self-efficacy and WTR among participants.
CONCLUSIONS: The PHIT has the potential to enhance emergency response willingness and related self-efficacy among LHD workers.
Author List
Harrison KL, Errett NA, Rutkow L, Thompson CB, Anderson MK, Ferrell JL, Freiheit JM, Hudson R, Koch MM, McKee M, Mejia-Echeverry A, Spitzer JB, Storey D, Barnett DJAuthor
Jennifer M. Freiheit PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Humanity department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Attitude of Health PersonnelCivil Defense
Curriculum
Emergency Responders
Focus Groups
Humans
Public Health
Self Efficacy
Volition
