Assessment of applicability and practicability of public health competencies: the view of MPH graduates

ABSTRACT

Background: Although Hanoi School of Public Health was established in the year 2001, 187 Masters of Public Health (MPH) graduated up to 2006. In order to improve the quality of training and find out the applicability of public health of these people, this study was carried out. Objectives: To assess the applicability as well as the frequency of the public health competencies that the alumni performed at current work. Subjects and method: 187 graduates were invited to complete a self - administered questionnaire and in-depth interviews were conducted with 8 alumni as well as a focus group discussion with 14 alumni, using group nominal technique. Results: In total, 79.1% (148) of the MPH graduates completed and returned the questionnaire. The most commonly selected of the 34 pre - identified public health competencies were applying computer skills (66.4%), planning and managing health programs (47.9%), communicating with the community and/or mobilizing the community to participate in health care (43.2%). Although giving good comments for training program, ex-graduates still had problems when analyzing data and making decision in public health. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the training program should be reviewed and revised to meet the needs of its graduates who enter diverse situations and positions.