tailieunhanh - Maternal and Child Health Graduate and Continuing Education Needs: A National Assessment

Probably, the closest related paper in the literature to this study is Glewwe (1999). Using cross-sectional data from Morocco, he estimates the impact that mothers’ health knowledge has on children’s long-term health status proxied by height for age Z-scores. The empirical approach taken by the author is careful in two distinct aspects. First, the database provides information that can help the researcher distinguish between general numeracy and literacy skills of the mother and their specific knowledge on health issues. Second, given that variables such as health knowledge, household income and literacy and numeracy skills may be endogenous, the author uses an instrumental variable approach to correct for such. | Maternal and Child Health Journal Vol. 6 No. 3 September 2002 2002 Maternal and Child Health Graduate and Continuing Education Needs A National Assessment Greg R. Alexander MPH ScD 1 2 Cathy Chadwick MPH 1 Martha Slay MPH 1 Donna J. Petersen MHS ScD 1 and MaryAnn Pass MD MPH1 Objectives The purpose of this report is to describe the methodology and results of a recent national assessment of long-term graduate and short-term continuing education needs of public health and health care professionals who serve or are administratively responsible for the . maternal and child health population and also to offer recommendations for future training initiatives. Methods The target of this needs assessment was all directors of state MCH CSHCN and Medicaid agencies as well as a 20 random sample of local public health departments. A 7-page needs assessment form was used to assess the importance of and need for supporting graduate and continuing education training in specific skill and content areas. The needs assessment also addressed barriers to pursuing graduate and continuing education. Respondents n 274 were asked to indicate the capacity of their agency for providing continuing education as well as their preferred modalities for training. Results Regardless of agency type . state MCH CSHCN Medicaid or local health department having employees with a graduate education in MCH was perceived to be of benefit by more than 70 of the respondents. Leadership systems development management administration analytic policy and advocacy skills as well as genetics dentistry nutrition and nursing were all identified as critical unmet needs areas for professionals with graduate training. Education costs loss of income and time constraints were the identified barriers to graduate education. More than 90 of respondents from each agency viewed continuing education as a benefit for their staff although the respondents indicated that their agencies have limited capacity to either provide