Abstract
We studied the effects of the Interdisciplinary Leadership Development Program (ILDP) on MCH trainees from five MCHB-funded
training programs at the UNC-Chapel Hill from the years 2001–2008. Specifically, we examined attitudes/beliefs about interdisciplinary
practice and the frequency of use of interdisciplinary skills; identified effects of interdisciplinary training on career
choices; and, examined the ways in which graduates used their interdisciplinary skills to effect change in MCH organizations
and systems, up to 8 years after completion of training. Using a post-test design, participants in the ILDP were contacted
to complete a web-based survey. Non-participating LEND and public health graduates were recruited for comparison. Guided by
EvaluLEAD, we designed questions that asked graduates to rate the influence of their programs on their attitudes/beliefs and
skills (on 5-point Likert scales), and to describe those influences in some detail in open-ended questions. The 208 respondents
represented 59.6 % of the graduates from 2001 through 2008. Model-predicted mean levels of frequency of use of interdisciplinary
skilIs was associated with ILDP participation (p = 0.008) and nearly so for interdisciplinary attitudes/beliefs (p = 0.067). There is an association between four domains of systems changes and frequency of skill use: develop/improve a program
(3.24 vs. 2.74, p < 0.0001); improve the way an organization works (3.31 vs. 2.88, p < 0.0001); develop/improve a partnership (3.22 vs. 2.83, p < 0.0003); and, develop a policy (3.32 vs. 2.98, p < 0.0013). Graduates used interdisciplinary training to improve outcomes for families and to effect change in MCH systems.
MCH leaders should disseminate, more broadly, rigorous assessments of the training intended to develop leadership competencies
that underpin effective interdisciplinary practice.
training programs at the UNC-Chapel Hill from the years 2001–2008. Specifically, we examined attitudes/beliefs about interdisciplinary
practice and the frequency of use of interdisciplinary skills; identified effects of interdisciplinary training on career
choices; and, examined the ways in which graduates used their interdisciplinary skills to effect change in MCH organizations
and systems, up to 8 years after completion of training. Using a post-test design, participants in the ILDP were contacted
to complete a web-based survey. Non-participating LEND and public health graduates were recruited for comparison. Guided by
EvaluLEAD, we designed questions that asked graduates to rate the influence of their programs on their attitudes/beliefs and
skills (on 5-point Likert scales), and to describe those influences in some detail in open-ended questions. The 208 respondents
represented 59.6 % of the graduates from 2001 through 2008. Model-predicted mean levels of frequency of use of interdisciplinary
skilIs was associated with ILDP participation (p = 0.008) and nearly so for interdisciplinary attitudes/beliefs (p = 0.067). There is an association between four domains of systems changes and frequency of skill use: develop/improve a program
(3.24 vs. 2.74, p < 0.0001); improve the way an organization works (3.31 vs. 2.88, p < 0.0001); develop/improve a partnership (3.22 vs. 2.83, p < 0.0003); and, develop a policy (3.32 vs. 2.98, p < 0.0013). Graduates used interdisciplinary training to improve outcomes for families and to effect change in MCH systems.
MCH leaders should disseminate, more broadly, rigorous assessments of the training intended to develop leadership competencies
that underpin effective interdisciplinary practice.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-012-1078-8
- Authors
- Lewis H. Margolis, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, USA
- Angela Rosenberg, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4287, USA
- Karl Umble, North Carolina Institute for Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8165, USA
- Linda Chewning, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875