Identifying training priorities through self-assessment by Alyssa K. Landen
determination of methods of analysis
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determination of methods of analysisThe Allegheny County Health Department contacted the PHF to determine the best methods of analysis for the survey. It was determined that the health department would base the analysis on the 3-Step Competency Prioritization Sequence (Public Health Foundation, n.d.). Excel was determined to be the best method for sorting data and determining averages of competencies. administration of surveySurvey Monkey was determined to be the platform to administer the survey. The survey was sent via email to the 348 employees of the health department on June 30, 2014. Follow up emails were sent as reminders to complete the survey. 39 individuals at the health department do not have email addresses or access to the internet during their workday and were provided with a paper copy of the survey. The initial deadline for completion was July 18, 2014. The survey was kept open until August 1, 2014, at which time data were exported for analysis. Employees completed 32 questions of the self-assessment using the following sale. 1= None (I am unaware, or have very little knowledge of the item) 2= Aware (I have heard of it; limited knowledge and/or ability to apply the skill) 3= Knowledgeable (I am comfortable with knowledge or ability to apply the skill) 4= Proficient (I am very comfortable, an expert; could teach this to others) analysis of survey responses332 (95.4%) employees responded (5 incomplete responses, 39 manual entries, 293 online responses). 16 employees did not respond to the survey at the time of analysis. Data were exported into excel using the Survey Monkey analysis tool. The data exported included overall question responses and unidentifiable individual responses. Survey Monkey provided averages for each question and for the data broken out by program and duty. Data were manually analyzed to determine bureau averages. This process included sorting data by program and then each program to its respective bureau. Overall domain averages were also completed by hand through a process recommended by the PHF. The following figure outlines how the data were analyzed. 
Figure : Analysis of training needs assessment survey data breakdown Table 3 indicates the average responses for each of the 8 domains. These data were then used to help determine priorities, discussed later in this section. Table : Training needs assessment survey average domain response
Table : Training needs assessment survey question findings 
determination of Training prioritiesData were presented to the Director of the health department (Dr. Karen Hacker, MD MPH) and the four Deputy Directors: LuAnn Brink, PhD Roderick Harris DrPH., James Thompson, and Ronald Sugar Esq. Data provided a snapshot of the competencies of each bureau and program within the bureau. Deputy Directors were asked to determine their top three priorities for the health department based on the self-assessment data and the health department’s strategic direction. The Allegheny County Health Department used the general guidelines from the 3-Step Competency Prioritization Sequence from the PHF (Public Health Foundation, n.d.) but adapted it to fit the needs of the health department. Figures 6 and 7 show the current gaps. Domain Averages: Analytical/Assessment Skills: 2.54 Policy Development/Program Planning Skills: 2.73 Communication Skills: 2.72 Cultural Competency Skills: 2.77 Community Dimensions of Practice Skills: 2.48 Public Health Science Skills: 2.41 Financial Planning and Management Skills: 2.50 Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills: 2.62 
Figure : Training needs assessment survey average domain response 
Figure : Training needs assessment survey average domain response The deputy directors are working to determine priorities for the upcoming year. These priorities will be based on the results of the self-assessment, the health department’s strategic plan, and gaps the deputy’s identified within their department. Some trainings will be offered department wide, while others may only be offered to those programs that have a particular training need. Addressing the gaps and priorities, the Allegheny County Health Department will be able to better achieve the Ten Essential Public Health Services. The Ten Essential Services of Public Health, listed below, aim to achieve the core functions of public health: assessment, assurance, and policy development (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014b).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to better illustrate these functions, has created a wheel depicting the ten essential services, see Figure 8. 
(Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014b) Figure : Ten Essential Services of Public Health The idea is that through addressing the gaps in competencies of the public health workforce at Allegheny County Health Department, the health department is better prepared to deliver these essential services to the community in which it serves. See Appendix D for an overview of how the core competency self-assessment addresses all Ten of the Essential Services of Public Health. Download 189.55 Kb. Share with your friends:
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