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Mark Edgar, MPH1, Jeffrey Mayer, PhD2, and Darcell P. Scharff, PhD2. (1) Heartland Centers for Public Health and Community Capacity Development, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104, 314-977-8289, edgarme@slu.edu, (2) School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, Salus Center, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63104
The Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals promulgated by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice were adopted for use in 2001 and are scheduled for review and potential revision in 2004. Thus far, validation of the competencies has been limited to face and content validity. The purpose of the current study is to assess the factorial validity and internal consistency reliability of this competency set. We utilized survey data gathered from the workforce (N= 857) of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation was the analytic approach. Interpretation of the resulting rotated component matrix suggested a solution of eight extracted factors that correspond closely with the eight domains of the Council on Linkages framework. Seventy percent of the variance was explained, and 43% of the factor loadings were over .70. Over 90% of the items met the criteria of at least a .20 difference in the loading on the “targeted factor” compared to loading on any other factor. Reliability analysis revealed high Cronbach alpha coefficients with six of the eight scales greater than .90, and all above .70. Our results provide substantial support for the factorial validity of the eight-domain framework of the Council on Linkages.
Learning Objectives: Participants will acquire information regarding the factorial validity and internal consistency of the core competencies. As a result participants will be able to
Keywords: Competency, Workforce
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.