Assessing the efficacy of computer-assisted learning for public health workers

This dissertation described a national survey and a literature review of public health workforce issues so as to determine the need for a continuing public health education program. When none of the states reported having a public health education program, a five-lesson, computer-assisted learning course, Adventures in Public Health, was developed. The measures used to evaluate this intervention assessed employee demographics; satisfaction; course completion; the public health employee's knowledge about public health basics; goal internalization of public health goals; and self-efficacy related to describing, discussing, and participating in general public health activities.; A second component of the dissertation assessed testing methodology. Reporting bias exists for all self-reporting measures, which may influence the use of traditional pretest and posttest measures. An alternative strategy is available to help reduce or change the measurement error in traditional pretest and posttest assessments: the use of a retrospective pretest and posttest.; A randomized-control, repeated-measures design was used to randomize 105 (57 intervention and 48 control) participants into the experimental group or no- treatment control group, completing only pretests and posttests. In the intervention group, 12 participants had incomplete posttests, and in the control group 9 had incomplete posttests. The data were analyzed using analyses of covariance and paired t tests.; Completion of the computer-assisted learning course, Adventures in Public Health, showed positive evaluation reviews from those taking the intervention. The mean participant age was 42 years old, but few had academic training in public health (10 out of 95). Employees in the intervention group had statistically significant improvements in their public health knowledge, self-efficacy in public health concepts, and goal internalization. The retrospective pretest and posttest appeared to be more sensitive to changes from the intervention compared with a standard pretest and posttest measurement method. A retrospective pretest is a legitimate and advantageous method to evaluate outcomes, but researchers must understand the inherent biases for design and interpretation of findings. On the basis of this study, there is support for the use of a well-designed computer interactive compact disc (CD) program for continuing education for public health practitioners.