Jemar R Bather, Emily M Burke, Christine M Plepys, Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Debra Furr-Holden, Melody S Goodman
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: The relationship between the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and interest in master of public health (MPH) programs is unknown. We examined trends in MPH application rates for 31 MPH concentrations and specifically for the MPH concentration in epidemiology and differences by race and ethnicity before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: We constructed a quasi-experimental design to examine trends in MPH application rates from academic years 2015-2016 through 2022-2023 by using Centralized Application Service for Schools and Programs of Public Health data. We used an interrupted time-series analysis to test whether application rates surged after the pandemic's onset (academic years 2019-2020 through 2020-2021) and whether this increase persisted during the pandemic (academic years 2020-2021 through 2022-2023). We fit models for the overall sample, a combined racially and ethnically minoritized sample, each racial and ethnic group separately, and a non-US citizen sample.
Results: The pandemic's onset correlated with an immediate increase in application rates across most samples: overall (38%) and among American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (91%), Asian (35%), Black (42%), Hispanic (60%), multiracial (30%), racially and ethnically minoritized (44%), and White (53%) samples. However, this trend was not sustained; application rate trends during the pandemic were significantly lower than prepandemic trends. Application rate trends for all MPH concentrations and the MPH in epidemiology concentration among non-US citizens were significantly higher during the pandemic than prepandemic.
Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for innovative strategies to sustain MPH degree interest and a diverse applicant pool.
期刊介绍:
Public Health Reports is the official journal of the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service and has been published since 1878. It is published bimonthly, plus supplement issues, through an official agreement with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. The journal is peer-reviewed and publishes original research and commentaries in the areas of public health practice and methodology, original research, public health law, and public health schools and teaching. Issues contain regular commentaries by the U.S. Surgeon General and executives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health.
The journal focuses upon such topics as tobacco control, teenage violence, occupational disease and injury, immunization, drug policy, lead screening, health disparities, and many other key and emerging public health issues. In addition to the six regular issues, PHR produces supplemental issues approximately 2-5 times per year which focus on specific topics that are of particular interest to our readership. The journal''s contributors are on the front line of public health and they present their work in a readable and accessible format.