Importance of scientific resources among local public health practitioners

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Am J Public Health
• Personal Author:
  Fields, Robert P. ; Stamatakis, Katherine A. ; Duggan, Kathleen ; Brownson, Ross C.
• Description:
  Objectives
  
  This study examined the perceived importance of scientific resources for decision-making, among local health department (LHD) practitioners in the U.S.
  
  Methods
  
  This cross-sectional study used data from LHD practitioners (n=849). Respondents ranked important decision-making resources, methods for learning about public health research, and academic journal use. Descriptive statistics were calculated and logistic regression was used to measure associations of individual and LHD characteristics with importance of scientific resources.
  
  Results
  
  Systematic reviews of scientific literature (24.7%) was most frequently ranked as important among scientific resources, followed by scientific reports (15.9%), general literature review articles (6.5%), and one or a few scientific studies (4.8%). Graduate-level education (aORs ranging from 1.7 to 3.5), larger LHD size (aORs ranging from 2.0 to 3.5), and leadership support (aOR = 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1, 2.3) were associated with a higher ranking of importance of scientific resources.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Graduate training, larger LHD size, and leadership that supports a culture of evidence-based decision-making may increase the likelihood of practitioners viewing scientific resources as important. Targeting communication channels that practitioners view as important can also guide research dissemination strategies.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Decision Making Evidence-Based Practice Female Humans Leadership Local Government Male Middle Aged Public Health Administration Research

  More +
• Source:
  Am J Public Health. 105(Suppl 2):S288-S294.
• Pubmed ID:
  25689176
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4355705
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U48 DP001903/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; U48/DP001903/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  105
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:a982a7f7f45587d3932576b7683469080dbd0c7447d3c6bbe676e4e2b500ccea
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/38543/cdc_38543_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 228.51 KB ]