Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Epidemiologists play critical roles in public health. However, until recently, no formal standards existed for epidemiology practice. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists drafted Competencies for Applied Epidemiologists in Governmental Public Health Agencies (AECs) that provide a foundation for expectations and training programs for three tiers of practice. We characterized the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) epidemiology workforce and assessed its baseline applied epidemiology competency by using these competencies. METHODS: Epidemiologists representing multiple divisions developed an Internet survey based on the AECs. Staff who met the definition of an epidemiologist were requested to complete the survey. Within eight skill domains, specific competencies were listed. For each competency, frequency and confidence in performing and need for training were measured by using Likert scales. Differences among tier levels were assessed using analysis of variance. RESULTS: Eighty-eight people from 10 program areas responded and were included in the analysis. Median epidemiology experience was four years, with 52% having completed formal training. Respondents self-identified as Tier 1/entry-level (38%), Tier 2/mid-level (47%), or Tier 3/senior-level (15%) epidemiologists. Compared with lower tiers, Tier 3 epidemiologists more frequently performed financial or operational planning and management (p=0.023) and communication activities (p=0.018) and had higher confidence in assessment and analysis (p<0.001). Overall, training needs were highest for assessment/ analysis and basic public health sciences skills. CONCLUSIONS: VDH has a robust epidemiology workforce with varying levels of experience. Frequency and confidence in performing competencies varied by tier of practice. VDH plans to use these results and the AECs to target staff training activities.