title: Using a digital story format: a contemporary approach to meeting the workforce needs of public health laboratories.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Public health laboratories are an integral partner in preparedness and emergency response. The Upper Midwest Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Center (UMPERLC) and the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa have a long history of working together to identify and meet the preparedness training needs of the laboratory workforce. The training, Anatomy of a Foodborne Outbreak, which uses a digital story format, provides an example of this partnership.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The State Hygienic Laboratory expressed the need for training programs targeted at enhancing early detection and investigation of outbreaks. Clinical laboratory staff play a significant role in identifying patient samples that may represent the effects of foodborne illness. Given that foodborne illnesses are on the increase nationally, it is critical that laboratory staff be prepared to deal with these outbreaks.
  
  
  METHODS
  UMPERLC collaborated with State Hygienic Laboratory content experts in the design and development of a digital story, using a foodborne outbreak that focuses on testing to detect Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. This narrative format was selected because seeing and hearing a story about the training content provide the learner with a deeper interaction and richer learning experience, allowing the learner to better see the bigger picture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anatomy of a Foodborne Outbreak is available on UMPERLC's Learning Management System, Training Source (http://training-source.org). Evaluation data indicate positive learning experiences overall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The digital story format, which is a video that uses a blend of images, text, and audio narration, was an appropriate method for the content and learning outcomes of the Anatomy of a Foodborne Outbreak training. This format requires more active learning, which increases retention and transfer of knowledge. Training that is easily accessed and user-friendly is an important resource for laboratory staff.
  When reviewing the course completion data, the highest enrollment occurred immediately after the training program was released. To increase visibility, Anatomy of a Foodborne Outbreak is housed on both the State Hygienic Laboratory Web site and UMPERLC's Learning Management System. The course has also been added to national learning databases such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (CDC TRAIN) and Certified in Public Health Recertification & Reporting System.
authors: Institute for Public Health Practice, College of Public Health (Mss Walkner, Fife, and Bedet), State Hygienic Laboratory (Ms DeMartino), University of Iowa, Iowa City.
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Walkner
authors: Dena
authors: D
authors: Fife
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Bedet
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: DeMartino
mesh_terms: D002959:Civil Defense / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D017145:Models, Educational; D017146:Models, Organizational; D011361:Professional Competence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology