Abstract
Background
Public health authorities have prioritized the identification of competencies, yet little empirical data exist to support decisions on competency selection among particular disciplines. We sought perspectives on important competencies among epidemiologists familiar with or practicing in public health settings (local to national).
Methods
Using a sequential, qualitative-quantitative mixed method design, we conducted key informant interviews with 12 public health practitioners familiar with front-line epidemiologists’ practice, followed by a web-based survey of members of a provincial association of public health epidemiologists (90 respondents of 155 eligible) and a consensus workshop. Competency statements were drawn from existing core competency lists and those identified by key informants, and ranked by extent of agreement in importance for entry-level practitioners.
Results
Competencies in quantitative methods and analysis, critical appraisal of scientific evidence and knowledge transfer of scientific data to other members of the public health team were all regarded as very important for public health epidemiologists. Epidemiologist competencies focused on the provision, interpretation and ‘translation’ of evidence to inform decision-making by other public health professionals. Considerable tension existed around some potential competency items, particularly in the areas of more advanced database and data-analytic skills.
Interpretation
Empirical data can inform discussions of discipline-specific competencies as one input to decisions about competencies appropriate for epidemiologists in the public health workforce.
Key words: Human resources, professional competence, epidemiology, interview, survey, Canada
Résumé
Contexte
Les autorités de santé publique accordent une haute priorité à la détermination des compétences, mais il existe très peu de données empiriques à l’appui des décisions sur l’éventail des compétences nécessaires dans telle ou telle discipline. Nous avons demandé à des épidémiologistes connaissant bien la santé publique ou exerçant dans un cadre de santé publique (local, provincial-territorial ou national) quelles compétences étaient importantes à leurs yeux.
Méthode
À l’aide d’une méthode séquentielle comportant à la fois des données qualitatives et quantitatives, nous avons interviewé 12 praticiens de la santé publique connaissant bien les pratiques des épidémiologistes de première ligne; ces entrevues ont été suivies par un sondage en ligne auprès des membres d’une association provinciale d’épidémiologistes en santé publique (90 répondants sur 155 personnes admissibles) et par un atelier de concertation. Des énoncés de compétences ont été extraits des listes de compétences de base existantes et des compétences désignées par nos informateurs, puis classés selon leur niveau de concordance quant à leur importance pour les praticiens au niveau d’entrée.
Résultats
Certaines compétences (méthodes et analyse quantitatives, évaluation critique des preuves scientifiques, transfert des connaissances scientifiques aux autres membres de l’équipe de la santé publique) revêtent une grande importance pour les épidémiologistes en santé publique. Ces compétences s’articulent autour de la prestation, de l’interprétation et de la « traduction » des données probantes pour étayer les processus décisionnels des autres professionnels de la santé publique. D’autres compétences envisagées, surtout les compétences spécialisées d’analyse de données et de bases de données, suscitent toutefois de vives controverses.
Interprétation
Les données empiriques peuvent alimenter le débat sur les compétences propres à certaines disciplines si l’on en tient compte dans les décisions sur les compétences exigées des épidémiologistes en santé publique.
Motsclés: ressources humaines, compétence professionnelle, épidémiologie, entrevue, sondage, Canada
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