title: Training the workforce in evidence-based public health: an evaluation of impact among US and international practitioners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Prevention Research Center in St. Louis developed a course on evidence-based public health in 1997 to train the public health workforce in implementation of evidence-based public health. The objective of this study was to assess use and benefits of the course and identify barriers to using evidence-based public health skills as well as ways to improve the course.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a mixed-method design incorporating on-site pre- and post-evaluations among US and international course participants who attended from 2008 through 2011 and web-based follow-up surveys among course participants who attended from 2005 through 2011 (n = 626). Respondents included managers, specialists, and academics at state health departments, local health departments, universities, and national/regional health departments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant improvement from pre- to post-evaluation for 11 measures of knowledge, skill, and ability. Follow-up survey results showed at least quarterly use of course skills in most categories, majority endorsement of most course benefits, and lack of funding and coworkers who do not have evidence-based public health training as the most significant barriers to implementation of evidence-based public health. Respondents suggested ways to increase evidence-based decision making at their organization, focusing on organizational support and continued access to training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the evidence-based public health course is effective in improving self-reported measures of knowledge, skill, and ability, barriers remain to the implementation of evidence-based decision making, demonstrating the importance of continuing to offer and expand training in evidence-based public health.
authors.affiliation: The Prevention Research Center in St. Louis, 621 N Skinker Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130. wsgibbert@gmail.com
authors.forename: Wesley S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Gibbert
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diem
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Kathleen N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Vilius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grabauskas
authors.forename: Aushra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shatchkute
authors.forename: Ross C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brownson
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007857:Leadership; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D013663:Teaching; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States