2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

336464
Building Awareness and Knowledge of Public Health Laws Among the Public Health Workforce


Monday, November 2, 2015

Jennifer Ibrahim, PhD, MPH, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Darrell Klein, JD, General Counsel Section, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln, NE

Colleen Svoboda, MPH, Community Health and Performance Management, Nebraska Division of Public Health, Lincoln, NE
Background: Previous research shows a lack of understanding of laws that govern public health practice among the public health workforce.  As part of a collaboration between Temple University and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the purpose of the study was to assess the impact of an interactive online public health policy surveillance tool on awareness and knowledge of public health laws among the public health workforce in Nebraska.

Methods: Using Qualtrics, we administered a 14 question survey at baseline and again at five months to the state and local public health workforce in Nebraska, totaling approximately 1,200 individuals.  Survey questions included information on tenure in position, position type, formal training or education in law, time spent thinking about law or using law in routine job functions, where to search for information on law, confidence in discussing public health law, and future training needs.  

Findings:  While self-report of awareness and knowledge was low at baseline, there was a significant increase as a result of interaction with the policy surveillance system. We will share findings on use of the policy surveillance system as measured through web statistics including particular topic areas most visited, changes in ways to access laws and comfort level engaging with law.

Conclusions: The study confirms strong interest among the public health workforce in ways to engage public health law in daily practice. The study also points to potential opportunities to enhance public health service delivery through trainings and educational efforts.   

Learning Areas:

Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Define the knowledge and awareness of public health law among the state and local public health workforce in Nebraska. Describe ways in which to use policy surveillance to support health department performance. Discuss potential opportunities for additional training and educational initiatives to help increase awareness and demystify public health laws.

Keyword(s): Workforce, Health Law

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Associate Director of the National Program Office for Public Health Law Research at Temple University and I have been doing work in the area of public health law for the last 12 years. I am also the PI on the study being presented.
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.

Back to: 3269.0: Assessing the Impact of Health Law and Policies in Practice