TY - JOUR
T1 - Learning in the zone
T2 - Toward workforce development of evidence-based public policy communication
AU - Meyerson, Beth E.
AU - Haderxhanaj, Laura T.
AU - Comer, Karen
AU - Zimet, Gregory D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).
PY - 2018/6/5
Y1 - 2018/6/5
N2 - Background: Evidence-based policy communication (EBPC) is an important, emerging focus in public health research. However, we have yet to understand public health workforce ability to develop and/or use it. The study objective was to characterize capacity to develop and use EBPC and identify cooperative learning and development opportunities using the case of Human papillomavirus (HPV). Methods: Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) informed guided interviews with 27 advocates in Indiana from government, industry, research, state associations and individuals. Participants focused on HPV, cancer, women's health, school health and minority health. Results: Capacity to develop and use EBPC was reported to develop through cooperative learning opportunities on the job or in advocacy focused coalitions. Coalition learning appeared to translate across health topics. Notably, policy experience did not assure understanding or use of EBPC. Conclusions: The ZPD framework can inform workforce EBPC interventions by focusing on actual development, potential development and factors for learning and development in the ZPD. Future studies should further clarify and evaluate emerging indicators in additional public health policy areas with a larger sample.
AB - Background: Evidence-based policy communication (EBPC) is an important, emerging focus in public health research. However, we have yet to understand public health workforce ability to develop and/or use it. The study objective was to characterize capacity to develop and use EBPC and identify cooperative learning and development opportunities using the case of Human papillomavirus (HPV). Methods: Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) informed guided interviews with 27 advocates in Indiana from government, industry, research, state associations and individuals. Participants focused on HPV, cancer, women's health, school health and minority health. Results: Capacity to develop and use EBPC was reported to develop through cooperative learning opportunities on the job or in advocacy focused coalitions. Coalition learning appeared to translate across health topics. Notably, policy experience did not assure understanding or use of EBPC. Conclusions: The ZPD framework can inform workforce EBPC interventions by focusing on actual development, potential development and factors for learning and development in the ZPD. Future studies should further clarify and evaluate emerging indicators in additional public health policy areas with a larger sample.
KW - Health policy communication
KW - Human papillomavirus
KW - Public health workforce development
KW - State policy development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85048139965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85048139965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-018-5617-0
DO - 10.1186/s12889-018-5617-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 29871602
AN - SCOPUS:85048139965
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 18
JO - BMC public health
JF - BMC public health
IS - 1
M1 - 700
ER -