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. 2021 Feb;5(1):11-22.
doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2020.08.011. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Improving Collaboration Between Public Health and Medicine: A Timely Survey of Clinician Public Health Knowledge, Training, and Engagement

Shari Bornstein  1 , James R Markos  2 , M Hassan Murad  3 , Karen Mauck  1 , Robin Molella  3
Affiliations

Improving Collaboration Between Public Health and Medicine: A Timely Survey of Clinician Public Health Knowledge, Training, and Engagement

Shari Bornstein et al. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2021 Feb.

Erratum in

  • [No title available]
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2024 Oct 7;8(6):493. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2024.08.004. eCollection 2024 Dec. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2024. PMID: 39439744 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the core knowledge of health indicators, federal health programs, and public health functions in practicing clinicians along with perceptions of their education and engagement with public health.

Patients and methods: A paper survey in booklet form was administered to attendees at 2 general medical conferences in May 2019. The survey was divided into 5 sections: knowledge of health systems and policy, knowledge of public health concepts and function, public health engagement, public health education, and demographics.

Results: One hundred two surveys were received from 402 attendees (response rate, 24.3%). Most were male (56%), older than 50 years (51%), and physicians (86%). Respondents had a fairly good knowledge of federal health programs (77%) and public health functions (84%), but less than half had a personal interaction with public health in the past 2 years (45%) or were aware of how to work with public health organizations in their community (46%). Only a few respondents rated their public health training as good or excellent during their primary degree (7%) or graduate medical education (15%), and most (75%) were interested in learning more about public health and health policy.

Conclusion: Respondents had generally good foundational knowledge of federal health programs and public health functions, although some gaps were identified. Inclusion of health policy and public health topics in continuing medical education would be well received by clinicians. To improve collaboration between public health and medicine, public health should personally engage clinicians more and explain how they can work together to improve population health.

Keywords: ACA, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; AMA, American Medical Association; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CME, continuing medical education; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Aspects of public health engagement by percentage of respondents. PH = public health.
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