Retrospective investigation and analysis of current situation and demand of public health personnel in primary health care institutions in continuing education
Ma Jing, Liu Mengran, Dai Zheng, Luo Huiming
Published 2022-09-01
Cite as Chin J Med Edu, 2022, 42(9): 853-857. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20220307-00270
Abstract
ObjectiveTo analyze retrospectively the states of continuing education and needs of public health practitioners in rural medical healthcare institutions, so as to support the continuing education for rural healthcare providers and their performance of public health service.
MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted on 116 township healthcare centers and community health service centers from 6 provinces (autonomous regions) including Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shanxi, Hubei, Xinjiang and Sichuan, and 47 public health practitioners were interviewed in a semi-structured manner to collect and analyze the current status of public health practitioners in rural areas, the main problems existing in continuing education, needs and suggestions from 2014 to 2016, Fisher exact probability method was used to analyze the relevant data.
ResultsIt is found that 94.8%(110/116) of township health centers and community health service centers have set up public health departments to carry out routine public health-related work focusing on disease prevention and health care, vaccination and management of non-contagious chronic disease. From 2014 to 2016, the proportion of staff with professional education background of public health and preventive medicine has been kept decrease as 10.8%(174/1 603), 10.2%(176/1 723), 9.8%(178/1 825), there were no significant differences (P=0.999), and most of them have no bachelor's degree [75.2%(3 912/5 151)]. One hundred percent (116/116) of the institutions covered by the investigation have the need to strengthen the continuing education for public health personnel. Among those who responded effectively to the interview questions, 51.6% (16/31) are "dissatisfied" with the current continuing education for public health practitioners and 37.9% (11/29) of them believe that the primary problems of continuing education were few opportunities to get training with sufficient disciplinary choice outside the area where they provide service.
ConclusionsAmong the personnel engaged in public health work in rural area, the low percentage of the staff who received professional education and training of public health and preventive medicine is a real challenge to their competence development and capacity building. It is necessary to pay attention to the continuing education of rural public healthcare providers with a top-level design and a specific and well functioning system to improve the post competence and performance by the rural healthcare personnel.
Key words:
Public health; Primary health care; Continuing education; Needs
Contributor Information
Ma Jing
Department of Education and Training, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Liu Mengran
Department of Education and Training, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Dai Zheng
Department of Education and Training, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Luo Huiming
Department of Education and Training, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
