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

Human Resources for Health

Albert Scherpbier⁶  Jimmie Leppink⁶  Hanan Tahir⁷  Nguyen Nhat Linh⁹  Xu Qian⁸  Maria Cecilia Gonzalez-Robledo³  Laura Magaña-Valladares¹  Marwa SE Abuzaid Wadidi²  Lucy Alexander⁴  Xiao Hua Ying⁸  Nguyen Thanh Huong⁹  Prisca AC Zwanikken⁵ 

[1]National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, CP 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

[2]Human Resource Development, Federal Ministry of Health, PO Box 303, Khartoum, Sudan

[3]Research Centre in Health Systems, National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, CP 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

[4]School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, Republic of South Africa

[5]Royal Tropical Institute, PO Box 95001, 1090 HA Amsterdam, The Netherlands

[6]Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands

[7]MPH Programme, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, PO Box 12810, Khartoum, Sudan

[8]School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Box 175, Shanghai 200032, PR China

[9]Hanoi School of Public Health, 138 Giang Vo, Kim Ma, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam

关键词: Outcome;    Master of Public Health;    Low- and middle-income countries;    Impact;    Graduate;    Evaluation;   

Others  :  1161183
DOI  :  10.1186/1478-4491-12-40

 received in 2014-04-25, accepted in 2014-07-23,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

The 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.

Methods

A 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.

Results

The 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.

Conclusions

This 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.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Zwanikken et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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