title: Ensuring public health professionals go the distance: a case study from an online data skills course.
abstract: Distance learning methodologies provide an effective and economical means for professional staff to advance their skills while continuing to meet their extensive work-related responsibilities. However, motivating professionals to engage in training opportunities that do not include the customary features of a trip out of town and time away from the office is a challenge for distance training initiatives aimed at the public health workforce. This article describes the implementation of several features designed to motivate public health professionals to participate in an online analytic skills course.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Farel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Polhamus
mesh_terms: D020375:Education, Distance; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D009042:Motivation; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States