Online Program

327449
Mixed-methods evaluation of a heath disparities fellowship Program: Five years of practice-based learning


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 8:50 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

Smiti Kapadia Nadkarni, MPH, Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Simona Kwon, DrPH, MPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Catlin Rideout, MPH, Section for Health Equity, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Charity Hung, NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Julie Kranick, MA, Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Nadia Islam, PhD, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH, Department of Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY
The Council on Education for Public Health requires graduate public health students to gain practice experience on application of basic public health skills. Limited information exists on program structure and evaluation methods, measures, and results.

The Health Disparities Fellowship Program, a joint program of NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health and NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center, aims to build student capacity for health disparities research using community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles. The program provides training, mentoring, seminars, CBPR field-based and community engagement experience, and builds academic and professional skills.

A mixed methods evaluation has been implemented (2010-present day) to assess program process and outcomes. Online short- (implemented at fellowship conclusion) and long-term (implemented annually beginning one year post-fellowship) surveys include measures on satisfaction, usefulness of activities, core competencies, CBPR skills, accomplishments, career plans, supervision/mentoring, networking, employment, career path, and value of experience. Follow-up debriefs are conducted with selected participants and documents including learning contracts outlining learning objectives, activities, core competencies, and supervision/mentoring plan were reviewed.

Short-term evaluation results (N=37) demonstrate students’ active engagement in community-based activities; 87% participated in community events during their fellowship. Students reported program experience increased intention to apply to graduate school (67%). Long-term results (N=55) indicate 58% are currently engaged in health disparities, and 35% in CBPR. Qualitative findings indicate program satisfaction.

Evaluation results indicate positive impacts on commitment to health disparities research and to incorporating a CBPR approach.  Findings contribute to the growing literature on building practice-based approaches for public health student training.

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Other professions or practice related to public health
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Identify core questions used to measure and evaluate a health disparities fellowship program Describe factors related to an training program that successfully builds health disparities and community-based participatory research skills

Keyword(s): Training, Health Disparities/Inequities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I oversee the Health Disparities Research Training Program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.