Creating an evidenced based MPH fieldwork model: From research and implementation through evaluation and dissemination

Background: The Masters in Public Health (MPH) fieldwork experience is intended to provide students a practice-based forum to utilize knowledge and skills acquired through coursework.

Objective: The objective was to revise our fieldwork model to be a more comprehensive, evidenced based approach allowing students to develop research and evaluation skills as well as gain experience in the development and delivery of public health initiatives in a community setting.

Methods: Over the 2013-2014 academic year, a faculty work group was formed. Fieldwork courses used by other schools and programs of public health were reviewed and feedback from student evaluations, community partners, and fieldwork site supervisors about workforce development needs were incorporated. Fieldwork objectives and course content were mapped to core and concentration competencies.

Results: The resulting MPH fieldwork model presents four primary objectives and one process objective that all students completed: (1) use of empirical methods to identify a public health problem; (2) use of social science and public health models to develop and implement a feasible solution; (3) use of quantitative and/or qualitative data and methods to evaluate a programming component; (4) interpretation and dissemination of findings to relevant community stakeholders. The process objective required professional development targets to be completed.

Implications: This model provides MPH students more latitude to conduct their fieldwork in a variety of settings and to develop a wider array of competencies. It also helps ensure that all MPH students develop both research and practice based skills. In this first year of implementation, evaluation is ongoing.