Learning Learning to Transform Training for Applied Epidemiology

About

Applied epidemiologists are the reconnaissance arm of health emergencies. Mastering the trade requires technical proficiency, critical thinking, political navigation, and community engagement. Many who enter the field must also shift perspectives from the individual to the population.
 

Today, almost one hundred applied or field epidemiology training programs (also called, FETP) operate in more than two-thirds of the world’s countries and territories. They typically favour learning in the field to the classroom. Most are based on US CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) training model, which began in 1951.

COVID-19 has led us to question the fit of the training model. Knowledge of adult learning has changed over the past 70 years, and the training programs today operate across diverse contexts. A recent survey showed gaps in applied epidemiologists’ core knowledge and skills.
 

This research explores how training and learning happen in applied epidemiology training programs. It includes a case study of the foundational program, U.S. CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service, and a co-designed qualitative study based in a constuctivist and critical action research framework. The qualitative study draws on grounded theory and narrative inquiry to inquire into practices, understandings, and situations for training and learning. The research was developed with lead trainers in training programs in Australia, Japan, Mongolia, and Taiwan.

This research has received Human Ethics approval from the ANU (2021/771). Data collection is nearly complete.

We expect the findings to inform
  • principles and processes for the design and re-design of training programs and for trainer/facilitator practice
  • quantitative surveys on the representativeness of the findings and on the barriers to changing programs or practices
  • guidance for program reviews and evaluations
  • advocacy for development and support
  • shared understanding with stakeholders about expected outcomes of the programs
 
For more detail on the proposed thesis, please see the video below, “Thesis Proposal Review.”
 

Thesis Proposal Review

 

Team

Principal Investigator

Matthew Myers Griffith (@mattmgriffith)

Co-investigators

Munkzhul Battsend – FETP Mongolia

Dr. Emma Field – Master of Applied Epidemiology, ANU

Dr. Angela Song-en Huang – FETP Taiwan

Dr. Tomoe Shimada – FETP Japan

Supervisory Panel

Professor Martyn D. Kirk – NCEPH, ANU

Associate Professor Tambri Housen – ANU/University of Newcastle

Professor Barbara Pamphilon – University of Canberra

 
Papers
Checklist Griffith, M. M., et al. (2022). "COVID-19 and investment in applied epidemiology." Bull World Health Organ 100(7): 415-415a.
Checklist Griffith, M. M., et al. (2018). "An approach to building Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) trainees' capacities as educators." Western Pacific surveillance and response journal: WPSAR 9(3): 1-3.
Checklist Griffith, M. M., et al. (2023). "How do field epidemiologists learn? A protocol for a qualitative inquiry into learning in field epidemiology training programmes."BMJ Open 2024;14.
Checklist Griffith, M. M., and Pamphilon, B. (2024). "Case study: adult learning and public health—a foundational training programme in field epidemiology with lessons and opportunities for collaboration."International Journal of Lifelong Education, DOI: 10.1080/02601370.2024.2308300.
 

Inspiring Resources

Updated:  13 June 2024/Responsible Officer:  Director/Page Contact:  Executive Support Officer